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^^ BEHIND THE SCENES
THE MEDIUMS
DAVID P. ABBOTT
CHICAGO
THE OPEN COUKT PUBLISHING CC
LONDON AGENTS
L
. . . !\ r
4
lOiitJn
_!_;
1E07 ' i
pr"
LE OF CONTENTS.
VIII. Slate Tri requiring '^' Slates and a Flap.—
The S; Used as a lurirg Trick.— Prepara-
tion of the Slates. 142
IX. Slate Trick Requ'ring ouble-Ringed Slate and a
Flap 150
X. Independe.ii .tyi. Writing. — Two Slates and a
Silicdte Fhv Used iS3
XI. Slate Trick with a Single Slate and a Flap, which
is Suitable for Platform Production. — Methods of
Forcing the Selection of a Certain Word. — ^Meth-
ods of Forcing the Selection of a Sum of Figures. .^-
— The Same Trick Where Two Slates are Used.
— The Same When Three Slates are Used, and a
Spoken Question Answered, with Words in Col-
ored Writing 156
XII. Methods of Obtaining a Secret Impression of the
Writing of a Sitter, — A Store-Room Reading
where this is Used. — A Test Using a Prepared
Book. — How to "Switch" a Question. — Tricks
Depending on this Principle. — Tests Given by
Various Chicago Mediums, — Reading a Message
by Pressing it on a Skull Cap Worn by Medium. 164
-Kin. Tricks where the Sitter Brings his Own Slates.-
Various Trap*,^ Psychometric Tests, — Message
on Slates Wrapped in Ihc Original Paper in which
they were Purchased. — Other Messages 178
XIV. Message on a Siller'^ Slate Produced hy a Rubber
Stamp.- Message Prndnoud by an Admit Ex-
change of Slates.— Oiemical Tricks— Other Meth-
ods.— Means of Securing Information iST
SOMK .MOllKHN- SOHCKUV.
I. Presentation of llie Tcst^ ,
1 1. Explanation of the Secret
III. The Same as Adapiod to Work in a Double P-
IV. The Use of the Card Sfn'anl,- and Blackboa-
VI TAULE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PIIENOMFINA.
Some Strange and Unusual Tests with an Explanation.. . . 215
MATERIALIZATION.
Additional Information -35
RELATION OF MEDIUMSHIP TO PALMISTRY,
ASTROLOGY. AND FORTUNE-TELL! NC.
Tests in Connection with a Reproduction of the Sitter's
Palm 246
PERFORMANCES OF THE ANNIE EVA FAY TYPE.
Questions Written and Retained by the Spectators an-
swered by a Blindfolded Lady on the Stage 253
VEST^TURNING.
Method Explained 260
AN IMPROVED BILLET TEST.
Reading Billets for an Assembled Company 263
APPENDIX: CORRESPONDENCE WITH INOUIRERS
THROUGH "THE OPEN COURT."
Mcdiumistic Seances 266
A Puzzling Case 280
Spirit Portraiture 294
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
IT is probably due to the scientific training of the
present age that there are those amongst us who can
not accept the promise of immortality on faith alone.
Such as these require something in the nature of a
positive proof for any helief which they may entertain.
They seem unconsciously to reahze that the chances
of any unproven proposition or statement being untrue
are vastly in the majority.
Such persons seem to feel that if a race of thinking
beings were slowly evolved upon a flying world, the
majority of ideas which such beings would evolve in
their minds, if unproven, would not correspond with
objective facts ; that only those which could be proven
in some manner would possess a value ; that the chances
are greatly against llit- probability of ihe truth of un-
proven ideas of things and existence ia^Mtal: also
that minds which could in a superstitii
and believe in such superstitions as witdrf
etc., might in the same age evolve and |j
superstitions that are unwarranted I
though pleasing to the ir. '■; ,1
Such persons as tlu'^'
mysteries by the power
as these woald unlock f
2 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
of her secret, but to such as these no answer framed in
words of hope has ever come.
"We ask, yet nothing seems to know ;
We cry in vain-
There is no master of the show,
Who will explain.
Or from the future tear the mask,
And yet we dream and yet we ask.
"Is there beyofid the silent night
An endless day,
Is death a door that leads to light?
The tongueless secret locked in fate
We do not know, we hope and wait."
"If a man die shall he hve again?" This question
of questions still appeals to the human heart with the
same strength that it did in the days of old. Many
solutions to this problem of problems have been of-
fered, many times has man answered this question ; yet
it ever and ever repeats itself in the human heaVt.
If the structures which are our bodies must dissolve
at death, does the innerness of these structures which
is spirit vanish utterly? Does death hold for us but
the promise of the same unfathomable gulf of black-
ness out of which we came at birth? Is the eternal
future to be to us the same as was the eternal past?
Is life but a temporary abode on a peak that is touched
by the fingers of light for a day, while all around yawns
an infinite, shoreless gulf of impenetrable darkness,
froiu one side of which we appeared and to whose
other side we hurry to meet our destiny?
We feel certain that both our material and spirittiai
parts are actualized by elements eternal and indestruc-
tible. But does that something, other than these ele-
■^
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
ments — that which they actualize, that creation which
appears as a result of their combination in a special
form, that something else which is ourselves — vanish
utterly with the dissolution of the elements which tem-
porarily actualize both our bodies and our spirits?
Not long ago I saw an aged father lying in a coffin,
— a pale, waxen figure, silent and cold. Around his
bier stood the weeping relatives while the minister re-
cited these lines:
"Some time at eve when the tide is low,
I shall slip my moorings and sail away,
With no response to the friendly hail
Of kindred craft iti the busy bay.
In Ihe silent hush of the twilight pale.
When the night stoops down to embrace the day.
And the voices cail in the waters flow-
Some time at eve when the tide is low
I shall slip my moorings and sail away.
"Through purple shadows that darkly trail
O'er the ebbing tide o£ the unknown sea,
I shall fare me away with a dtp of sail
And a ripple of waters to lell the tale
Of a lonely voyager, sailing away
To myitk Isles, where at anchor lay
The craft of tlio.w who have sailed Utfore
O'lT tlic unknowi
"A tew who have
Will mi»
Sntnc friendly bm
Some loving
In lilent «orrow
' -fuin have r
'mK« slulti
•rati thu
' ' > unknown
4 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
I thought, as I listened, "Is this true, shall we
greet again the friends that have gone before?" The
cold facts of science and philosophy are poor consola-
tion in a time like this. Then it is that but one promise
can satisfy the longing of the human heart.
When one lays a life-long companion in the tomb ;
when one looks for the last time on the pityful, pinched
little face, and realizes that never, never again will the
loved one answer to one's voice ; then it is that the
darkness of despair settles down on the night of the
soul. The desire to again meet the loved one may be
but a sentiment to which nature's answer will finally
be, if not its gratification, the extinction of the senti-
ment in annihilation ; yet the heart craves but one an-
swer to its longings.
Is it strange that the tired and weary soiU, worn
with its despair, should at times turn its breaking
heart to these mystic priests of occultism for consola-
tion — to these mysterious beings that claim the power
to summon from the silent abysses of emptiness, the
shades of our beloved ones who have vanished and are
but a memory ? It is the consolation of feeling beyond
a doubt that one's dear one still exi.its. together with
the love of the miraculous which lies in every nature,
that makes it possible for these persons to perpetuate
their religion. This religion requires a seeming mir-
acle for the proof of its truth, but it is not the first
religion in which miracles have played a part.
One gray winter afternoon as the north wind was
howling down the streets and swirling clouds of snow
against my windows, I thought of some place to sjiend
the evening that would break the loneliness. I nolic<.'d
in a daily paper an advertisement of one of the bigh-
priests of this strange religion, and I determined with
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 5
a friend to visit the realm of the supematutal that
evening.
Accordingly, my friend and I, together with some
thirty or more other guests, assembled in the medium's
parlors at eight o'clock. The Rev. Madame E., "Cele-
brated Occultist, Trance Medium, Clairvoyant. Pos-
sessor of the Sixth Sense, etc., etc.," delivered the
opening sermon. This sermon was certainly unique
in its entire absence of ideas. I was involuntarily re-
minded of the passage in Hamlet where Polonius says,
"What do you read, my lord?" and Hamlet replies,
"Words, words, words."
I will however modify this statement. There was
one idea which seeme<l to impress the spectators favor-
ably, and its logic seemed to entirely satisfy them. It
was the statement that "there never was an imitation
of anything until after there had existed the genuine
thing to be imitated : that accordingly there never was a
fraud until after there was something genuine of which
the fraud was an imitation; now as there is fraud in
mediumship. there must also be the genuine medium-
ship of which the fraud is an imitation."
This seemed to thoroughly convince (iic listener
so the "Occuhist" proceeded with her tests, giv'
every one in the room a test, which performance
really very cfTective.
I will now describe the tests. Slips nf paper
passed around with the request that each sitter v
on the slip of paper given him a (|uestion whii'
desired to have answerfd. The sitters were al:
structed to address the questioiis to a s|)irit, and !■
their own names to them. After writing they
6 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
requested to fold the slips in halves with the writing
inside. This was done.
The manager then collected these questions in a hat
and turned them out on the center table. The billets
made quite a display in quantity as they lay carelessly
on the table, and the medium paid no attention to them
whatever. The medium now invited some spectator
to blindfold her; and taking a lady's kid glove, she
first placed it over her eyes as an additional precaution,
and then placing a large handkerchief over the glove
she had the spectator tie it tightly behind her head.
She then held her face to the audience and asked them
if they were satisfied that she was properly blindfolded.
As there seemed no doubt on this point the medium
proceeded.
She first informed the sitters that she would make
no attempt to answer the questions asked, or even to
read them, but that she would simply give them the
impressions which she should receive from them, no
matter how they applied or to what they referred. She
also requested that each spectator speak right out and
identify his message as soon as he should recognize
the same as being for him. She now felt her way to
the table, and took a seat at the side opposite the
audience, so that she faced the audience with the table
and billets between her and the spectators. She next
nervously fingered a few of the billets; and opening
some of them, she stacked them on the table, smooth-
ing them out.
She now took one of the billets, and smoothing it
out, pressed it tightly against the bandage on her fore-
head and began :
**I get the vibration of a man who passed out very
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 7
suddenly. It was entirely unlocked for, and I get the
name of Fred,"
"That is for me," remarked a spectator,
"Do you rect^nize him?"
"I do."
"Yes, he was shot — shot right through here," said
the medium, placing her hand to her breast. "Do you
rec<^ize this as a fact?"
"I do," replied the sitter.
"There was a baby, was there not?" asked the me-
dium.
"There was," repHed the sitter.
"Where is this baby?"
"That is what we want to know," the sitter an-
swered.
The medium then said, "I see that she is well and
growing. She is in the care of an elderly lady who is
• kind to her. She is east, for I go east to get the vibra-
tion. She was taken by a younger lady and given to
this elderly lady. Are you satisfied?"
"I am," replied the spectator.
The medium now took another slip of paper, and
pressing it tightly to her bandaged forehead, gave the
second test.
"I get the influence of a _\ounger U
Mary,"
"That is for me," remarked a
spectators.
"You recognize her, do you ?'
"I do."
"You are her mother, f. r
daughter."
"That is right," replicl iln
8 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
"You recognize this thoroughly, do you?" asked the
medium.
"I do."
"She says, 'Tell mother that nothing could have been
done for me,' " said the medium.
"She says that, does she?" asked the lady, as she
began crying.
**Yes, she says, 'Mother, nothing could have saved
me ; you did all that it was possible to do,* '' answered
the medium.
"Thank God for that^" said the lady, with tears
rolling down her aged cheeks, and her withered hands
trembling violently. "I have worried much about
that ; I thought that perhaps she might have been
saved."
"No, she could not have been," answered the me-
dium.
The medium now took another slip of paper, and
pressing it to her forehead, gave the third test.
**I feel the influence of a ladv around me, a rather
voung lady who died of consumption. I get the name
of Priscilla."
"That is for me/' replied a spectator.
"You recognize her, do you?"
"I do."
"She was your sister?"
"Yes."
**She had high cheek bones and tawny brown hair,
did she not ?" asked the medium.
"She did."
"Several of your family had consumption, did they
not?" asked the medium.
'*Yes, there are three dead," replied the spectator.
"All from consumption?"
UALF HOURS WITU MEDIUMS.
"Yes.-
"There are four of you alive." stated the medium,
"Only three," corrected the sitter.
"I f:et the vibration of four, or rather seven in your
family : I am certain of this," stated the medium.
"There were but six," corrected the gentleman.
"There were seven. There was a little child of
whom you do not know," asserted the medium.
It was impossible for me to remember any more of
the tests literally ; but these three are a fair sample of
some thirty or more, all about equally successful. The
audience was visibly impressed and affected with this
seance. The three tests I have given above are very
accurately reported just as they occurred, for I exerted
my memory to its utmost to fix them literally in my
mind. She made a few errors ; but when she discov-
ered she was following the wrong clue, she quickly
adopted another course. She explained her error by
saying that the vibratioh was broken or the influence
weakened. When asked what good it did her to have
written questions if she did not answer or read them,
she replied that this helped her to get "concentration."
whatever this may mean. Later on she came to my
question, and gave me a test, as follows :
"Mr, Abbott, I get for you the name of I.imks. I
feel the vibration of an eW
whiskers. He is quite ]
eves, and was always uH
Wmr
"I do." I replied. (I \
hereafter for this ttBte
throw discoum;' > tti on llwl
"I see you J,' I thing w
but I can not ]i '. wliat
10 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
"You are correct," I replied.
I was thoroughly convinced that she was reading the
questions, and that she was getting her information
from the questions asked. I was sure that she took
what information she could from each question and
added to it from her fertile imagination and from the
replies of the sitters ; and that thus she produced the
effect, which was certainly quite great, with the audi-
ence.
Accordingly, after the seance, I sauntered around to
the center table, and got an opportunity to read a few
of the questions that were written on the slips of
paper.
One read : "Fred : Who fired the fatal shot? Where
is the baby?" This was signed "George," This was
the question from which the first test was given. If
the reader will compare the first test given with this
question, it will be seen that there is no information
contained in the test, that coidd not be surmised from
the question itself by a shrewd person.
One question read, "Mary: Could anything have
been done that would have saved you?" This was
signed "Mother." This question was the one from
which the second test was given. It can be compared
with the test with the same results as in the first case.
Another question read. "Priscilla: Are we all to die
of consumption?" This was signed "James H — ."
In this case I feel sure that the medium knew, by the
gentleman's voice and position in the room, whom she
was addressing. The writer of this question had high
cheek bones, and hair of a color that would indicate
the description that the medium gave of his dead sister.
It is possible that this gentleman had attended her
former seances and that she knew him from former
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
experiences. I feel sure that the medium studied the
different characters in her room thoroughly while the
company was gathering ; and that she remembered the
peculiar looks of each, and in some cases, their voices.
In one test she said, "I get the name of Frat or Prat,
or something of the kind. I can not quite catch it,"
A spectator replied, "That is for me. It is Frat."
I found that this question and the name were poorly
written so that one could not tell with certainty
whether the name began with an "F" or a "P." This
proved that her difficulty was not in hearing the voice
of the spirit, but in reading the writing of the mortal.
As to my own question, I addressed it to the name
of a dead friend. The name was "Will J — ." I wrote
it hurriedly with no support for the paper but my hand,
and the last name resembled the name "James," but
it was another name entirely, I signed my own name
plainly, and the question read, "Did you read what I
sent you ?" It can thus be seen that the test given me
had no bearing. Mr. J — was a young man and wore
no whiskers. I know of no "James" answering her
description.
And now to explain the method she used in reading
the questions. This is an old ail4 well-known trick
in a new dress. The trick of w]
is a variation, is known to the
ington Ir\ing Bishop's Scaled
have performed it many times
once. In the fir«t place I notiii
kid glove whtii ' n:^ blind(<>:
the method of billing t:.
for the almvt-:. 1 trick,
and it is an m- r for th'
look down V|> laUe fr"
^^^Hbn
I LK Re
■formancc
i-^ "Wasli-
tiled pi.T-'Jon
the banda;
-*"- ■-
12 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
There is thus a strip of the table top some six inche
wide easily in the view of the medium. It is also eas;
to shift a bandage of this style slightly upward by i
motion of raising the eyebrows.
A close observer would have noticed that the mcdiun
first unfolded a couple of papers, smoothed them ou
and laid them on the table ivritiiig side tip; that thcs<
lay between the pile of unread papers and herself
that she next took another paper and pressed it to he
forehead, and at the same time placed her right elbow
on the table and apparently rested her head in her righ
hand, which at the same time pressed the paper agains
her forehead ; that when she did this she leaned for
ward on her hand and thus the part of the table or
which lay the opened papers came directly in range o
her concealed eyes. When she gave the first test, slu
■was reading the question on the table under her eyes
and was not getting it from the paper against her fore-
head.
As soon as she finished the first test she laid tht
paper in her hand on top of the opened ones, writing
side »P; and opening and placing another one againsi
her head, she gave the second test. Meanwhile sin
again leaned her h^d in her hand so that she conU
read the writing on the paper she had just laid down
She was thus all the time one billet behind in hei
reading, and was really reading the one under hei
eyes, while pretending to <lraw inspiration from tin
one pressed against her forehead. A close observei
would have noticed that she invariably held the side ol
the paper on which the writing was, next to Ikt hea<l
The spectators thus never could sec the writing an(
thereby discover the deception. She could tell tin
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. I3
writing side of the papers by feeling, as this side was
folded inward in all cases.
A few evenings after this seance, I attended her
Sunday night meeting. The hall was packed, and even
standing room taken. The tests given were of the
same character as those given at her seance; and as
she gave them, they met quick responses from persons
over the hall. The effect was really fine, and I was
surprised that such an old and well-known trick could
affect so many persons so seriously. When writing
my question, I tore the slip of paper given me into
halves, and wrote on half of it. I later saw the medium
with half a slip in her hand while giving another test.
When she laid down this half slip and took up another,
she gave me my test. I thus verified what I already
knew in regard to the manner in which she read the
questions.
On both occasions, after the meetings, when guests
were departing, I noticed the manager gather up the
questions and place them carefully in his pocket. I
knew that this was in order that next day they might
be studied and catalogued.
I might mention that at the Sunday ni^t meeting
some tests were given before the medium began her
regular tests. She merely said thaf certain spirits came
to her, gave their names and other ditails. ;
that they wished to communicate with s
room. The medium asked for whom each '
and as certain ^ectators recognized each
effect was very fine on the audi^KQ. In one c
a gentleman had identified one of ti'sc iv^'
him, the medium asked, "Is your 'U Ir —
spectator replied that it was. i i ' \^l
dium, "I see that name written i hi vir ^^^i
14 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
These tests were in the nature of "Blue Book" tests,
but I do not think this medium has a book of Cmaha.
I think that she got her information from questions
asked her on slips of paper at the previous meetings,
seances, and private readings; also from gossiping
with different persons who called during the daytime
for private readings. I understood that she frequently
visited with such persons after giving them a reading,
and that she was accounted a very friendly and so-
ciable person. It is very easy to gain information by
keeping all written questions and studying them after
the meetings.
That this method is generally used I know from the
fact that some time ago a certain medium came to grief
in Omaha. The police confiscated his paraphernalia,
in which was found a "Blue Book" of Omaha. The
public was invited to call and see this book : and be-
lievers could go and read their own questions, written
in this book, with their own names signed to them.
Yet, notwithstanding all this, the persons of that faith
are ready to be duped again, so great in the ordinary
man is the love of the occult and the desire for positive
proof of individual immortality.
III.
I know a lady in a country place who recently re-
ceived a letter which read as follows:
"Mrs. S. E. J — , '*itm
C— , Neb. ^^
Dear Madam: At one of our seances recently th-
spirit of a young lady made her appearance and ga\
her name as Marv E. J — . She claims to be von
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
daughter and strongly expressed a desire to communi-
cate with you. If I can be of any service to you, you
may command me.
I remain faithfully yours, ."
This letter was signed by a professional medium at
that time located in Lincoln, Neb., and was written on
a letter-head which contained the information that the
writer was a famous trance medium, etc., etc.
The lady, on receiving this, was greatly impressed
by such a letter from an utter stranger in a city some
distance from her. There was no reason why she
should be known to this medium in any way, as she
had never heard of him. She had a daughter, Mary,
who had died of typhoid just before graduating from
a certain school ; and her heart had been nearly broken
over the loss. She had passed a few weary years
grieving over her dear one; and after receiving this
letter, her mind continually dwelt on its strange con-
tents. Finally she could stand the strain no longer;
so she determined to make a visit to the city, and learn
what this mysterious person could reveal to her.
Accordingly she made the journey and in due time
arrived at the residence of the medium. While wait-
11. she fell into
another place
; and who liad
ing her turn at ihe hcinu >
'f liif ]ii.-(ijii
conversation witli aivi..
■ m
who \vas waiting ior
received a letter siniili.
When her tiimng^
^^^UVitei
room of ttie nltt^^H
Hfwas
he charier ^^^^^1
^■Tc ; 111;
- fl^^P
V^ :.. h.
■ ■ ^^Hp
(■ ' f-.i
^^She .(l^^B
k •,»! Ik
l6 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
box of envelopes. He first handed the lady a sheet of
paper, and directed her to write a letter which he dic-
tated. It read something like this :
"Dear Mary: Tell me if you are happy over there.
Can you see me and your brothers, and are there
wonderful sights to see in the realms where you are?
Did you suffer much when you passed out?
Your mother, S. E. J — ."
The medium now took an envelope from the box of
stationery, and opening it up, requested the lady to
breathe in it so as to magnetize it. This she did, and
incidentally noticed that it was empty. The medium
now requested her to place her letter in this envelope,
which she did. He immediately sealed it before her
eyes without removing it from her sight for one in-
stant ; and taking one end of it in the tips of the fingers
of his right hand, he requested the lady to hold the
opposite end in her fingers so as to "establish connec-
tion, and the proper conditions."
The sat in this manner for probably five minutes
during which time the medium discoursed on the truths
of spiritual science. At the end of this time the
medium said, "Let us see if we have anything." Tak-
ing the envelope in his left hand, he tore open its end
with his right hand, and removed the letter the lady
had placed in the envelope, handing the same direct!)-
to her. She immediately unfolded it and to her sur-
prise found that her writing had utterly disappeared,
and in its place was the following letter:
"Dear mother : I am happy, oh, so happy, over here !
I can see you and my brothers at any time, and I visit
you every day : but you do not know it. You can not
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. I7
tell at what moment I am looking at you all with my
invisible eyes and listening to your voices. I will be
waiting to meet you when you come over, and you will
be so happy to see the wonderful sights there are here.
My suffering ceased the moment I began to die, and I
knew nothing but the greatest joy.
Yours with love forever, Mary E. J — ,"
The lady said she never could express the joy she
felt on reading this communication from her beloved
daughter, and that to her dying day she would treasure
this missive. The medium immediately handed her
the envelope in which it had been sealed, and told her
she could keep all in memory of her daughter, which
she did.
She remarked that the writing did not seem quite
natural to her, and the medium explained that his
"guide" did the writing, while her daughter merely
dictated the communication. The lady never had been
a spiritualist but now is certainly greatly impressed
with this religion of wonders.
I will now explain the method used by the medium
in this performance. He uses a box of envelopes of
the ordinary business size or a trifle smaller. He takes
one envelope and with a pair of scissors cuts a small
margin off the ends and bottom of it. He now dis-
cards the back side of the envelope, and uses only the
front side with its flap which is attached to it. This
half of an envelope will now slip inside of another
envelope, and the two flaps will fit each other very ac-
curately. By moistening the flap of the complete en-
velope it can be scaled to the flap of the "dummy."
This the medium docs so neatly that none but the
;:*■'
l8 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
double front and that the flap really consists of two
flaps stuck together neatly. Before fastening the two
flaps together the message is prepared and placed in
the compartment between the two fronts.
After all is prepared, the envelope looks like an
ordinary one; and if it be taken from a box of en-
velopes, there is nothing to give an idea of prepara-
tion. The medium always sits in such manner that
the subject is between him and the light, as otherwise
the subject might see the paper in the concealed com-
partment of this prepared envelope.
The medium now gives the sitter a sheet of paper
on which to write the letter he dictates. This sheet of
paper is an exact duplicate of the sheet in the prepared
envelope, and if the subject were a close observer he
would notice that this sheet had been previously folded.
The object of this is that the subject may fold it up
at the same creases, so that when it is folded it will
be the same in appearance as the duplicate. When
the medium asks the subject to breathe in the envelope
and magnetize it, this is for the purpose of calling
to the sitter's attention the fact that the envelope is
empty, and at the same time not use words to do so.
Should the medium make the statement that the en-
velope is empty, this statement would suggest trickery,
and might cause an investigation that would reveal
the secret. If, however, in breathing in the envelope,
It be held so that the subject can see the entire interior
of the envelope, it will be remembered afterwards and
cited as evidence of the impossibility of trickery of
any kind.
When the lady places the letter in the envelope the
medium is holding it open. He immediately seals it
himself and taking it in the tips of the fingers of his
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. ig
right hand requests the sitter to hold the other end of
the envelope. When the medium is ready to produce
the message, he tears the end of the envelope off
himself; and holding the envelope in his left hand,
he reaches in the front compartment with the fingers
of his right hand, bringing out the message which he
hands directly to the sitter, with the request that it be
examined for a communication. The moment the sitter
sees the words, the excitement of reading is so great
that it is exceedingly easy for the medium, with the
left hand which contains the envelope to slip into his
left pocket the envelope just used and take therefrom
the duplicate. His left side is away from the sitter;
and he has ample time to make the exchange and
bring out a genuine envelope with the end torn off,
which, now as the sitter finishes reading the message,
he takes in his right hand and presents to the subject.
After the performance, it is most usual for the sit-
ters to forget that the medium dictated the letters
which they have written ; and they will almost invar-
iably tell one that they wrote a letter themselves and
received one in reply to their own questions. This is
a most effective trick, and is the entire stock in trade
of this medium. Of course he has a means of getting
information in the little towns about certain persons,
and to these he sends his circular letters. This can be
managed in many ways. The medium can visit the
different towns and get information from the files
local papers, graveyards, etc. Or he can have a n:
who is canvassing for something, to secretly - ' i
the information with the names; and he can | if
person part of the proceeds for his work. h
person frequently learns much about certain ii
20 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
by adroit questions addressed to other citizens, in the
course of his stay in the towns.
When the medium sends out a circular letter, he
immediately prepares an envelope with a suitable mes-
sage and labels it on a separate slip of paper. He also
writes on this slip a note which reminds him of what
the letter must consist, which he is to dictate to this
subject when she arrives.
All persons do not respond to these circulars ; but a
goodly number do respond, and when one arrives, she
usually introduces herself or else presents to the me-
dium the letter which he wrote to her. As soon as
a subject introduces herself and states her business,
the medium retires to another room to get his box
of stationery and of course selects the properly pre-
pared envelope and places it in the box where he can
easily choose it. He also reads his notes and is now
prepared to dictate the letter for the subject to write.
I have known other mediums to use this same trick,
but not in so effective a manner as this medium uses it.
IV.
A first-class medium is not only expert in the f)er-
formance of certain particular tricks, but is also very
resourceful when occasion demands it, and is particu-
larly expert in the use of language. I can not better
illustrate this than by giving a short account of a
private reading which a certain medium of consider-
able renown gave to a gentleman in Omaha some five
years ago.
The medium was traveling under the name Dr. Lee
H — . He was really very expert, and simply mystified
all with whom he came in contact. His tricks, from
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 21
what I can leam of them from descriptions given to
me by observers, were surely very superior.
My informant^ an advertising agent for a daily
paper, is a mutual friend of the medium and myself,
well versed in trickery and mediumistic woik, and the
medium kept no secrets from him. This friend of
mine was an eye-witness to the scene I am about to
describe, and I am indebted to him for the details of
the experiment, for he happened to visit the medium
when a gentleman called for a reading.
The room was a very large one with a large bedstead
standing across one comer, and placed with its head
next to the comer. The medium beckoned to my
friend to step behind the head of this bed, which he
did ; and from this point he saw all the details of some
of the finest mediumistic work that is ever performed
off-hand. The sitter could have seen my friend, had
he observed closely, but he failed to do so.
The medium was a very large and powerful man,
and wore no beard. I may incidentally remark that,
in looking up his historj'. I am informed that at one
time he had been a pugilist. After this he became a
minister of the Gospel, finally taking up the profession
of a spirit medium, as this was more lucrative for one
of his talents and personal appearance.
The gentleman stated to the medium that lie had
read his adveriisement, and that he desired to cnnsidt
him. The medium requested the gciitk-iiian to wrik'
down the questions lie desired answered, also to wriie
on a slip of paper his own name ami the name of snmu
spirit with whom lie desired to cumnuinicate, and to
fold and retain the writing himself.
The sitter refused to do this. He sai<l. "\'nu atl-
vertise that you will tell callers their own iianies, and
22 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
that you will answer their questions without them
asking the same. Now I am an unbeHever; and if
you can do these things, do so, and I will pay you and
have a reading. I do not purpose to write anything."
He in fact showed that he had considerable intellig^ence
and that he did not intend to assist in any sleight-of-
hand trick and be duped.
The medium was a very pompous old fellow ; he
stood very erect and dignified, and talked very gruffly
and rapidly. He wore a smoking jacket; and I may
incidentally mention that it had two large outside
pockets near the bottom, and two large inside pockets,
one on each side with large vertical openings ; and with
a stiff material around the openings that held them
slightly open. Of course, these details could not be
seen by the sitter, but my friend had ample opportunity
to discover this fact at various times.
The medium when talking, continually ejaculated a
kind of noise as if he was slightly clearing his throat ;
but it was also in the nature of a growl. This noise
is hard to describe on paper; but from the imitation
which I have heard my friend give of it, I would say
that it is such as I have frequently heard large gruff
old fellows use when they gaze down at one from over
their glasses and give the impression that they are
greatly condescending when conversing with one. The
medium kept interspersing his rapid remarks on spirit-
ualism with these growls. He kept tapping the sitter
on the breast with the extended fingers of his right
hand as if emphasizing his remarks. At the same time
he held the sitter's right hand with his other hand, and
gazed very intently into his eyes. The medium was
so strong that he could easily swing the sitter around
into almost any position he desired ; and while lectur-
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 23
ing him, the medium kept emphasizing his remarks
with his right fingers in a manner entirely too vigor-
ous for the bodily comfort of the sitter.
The medium appeared to be very angry that the
sitter should have the effrontery to call on him for a
reading, and at the same time insult him by a suspicion
of his honesty in. a matter which the medium held so
sacred. The medium acted as if he were about to
order the gentleman from his rooms; but continued
to hold him by the hand, while he kept a stream of
excited conversation flowing. He kept tapping the
gentleman on the breast, and emphasizing his remarks,
while he gazed intently into the sitter's eyes and backed
him around the room. He would, occasionally, while
tapping, gesticulate wildly ; and in all these ways, he
continued to distract the sitter's attention and to make
him wish he were in more congenial surroundings. At
the proper moment my friend saw the medium deftly
slip from the breast pocket of the sitter a letter which
he had spied. He brought it instantly into his palm,
which was a large one. in the manner a magician does
when palming a card. He turned his right side from
the sitter and with his right hand slipped the letter into
his own lower pocket on that side. He never took his
eyes from the sitter's during all this : and when he
ceased tapping, the sitter seemed evidently relieved.
The medium then said that he would give the gentle-
man something that would convince him : and he
brought from a table a dozen or more slates all alike,
and laid them on the bed. He rcqucstcil the sitter to
select a clean slate from among these, wliicli was done.
The medium then took the selected slate : anil turning,
he placed it in a chandelier a few feet distant and left
it there for the spirits to write on, which they did in
24 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
•
a few moments. Meanwhile the medium entertained
the sitter properly. *
What the medium really did when he turned with
the slate, was quickly to slip it into his left inside
breast pocket, which stood slightly open, and instantly
to draw from the other pocket a duplicate slate on
which was a message already prepared. He placed
this slate containing the message in the chandelier in
such a manner that the sitter could not see the writing.
In a few moments the medium took down the slate
with the message, and handed it to the sitter. Just at
this time the medium seemed to hear some one at his
door, which his servant failed to answer ; and excusing
himself for a moment, he left the room, and could be
heard outside storming at the servant for his neglect
of duty. Meanwhile the sitter examined the slates and
read the message, as he had no desire to attempt to
escape through the outside hallway wherein was the
raging medium. During this time the medium of
course read the stolen letter.
He soon returned, and now came some of the finest
work of all. His task was to replace the stolen letter
in the gentleman's pocket unobserved. He finally suc-
ceeded by following his original tactics, at the same
time discussing the message the gentleman had re-
ceived on the slate. He kept tapping the sitter on the
breast, while with his left hand he again grasped the
sitter's hand, and continued wildly to discourse and
gesticulate. He kept backing the gentleman around
the room, and if he did not partially frighten him, at
least made him feel rather uncomfortable and long for
a more congenial clime. The sitter wore a pair of
glasses with a cord attached to the pocket wherein the
medium desired to replace the letter. This occasioned
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
25
considerable difficulty, as the letter caught on the cord
when the medium attempted to slip it from his palm
into the sitter's pocket.
For a time, the medium gave up. He slipped the
letter into the lower pocket of the sitter, and was evi-
dently going to give the sitter the remainder of the test,
but seemed to reconsider his determination. He now
renewed his efforts and finally withdrew the letter
from the lower pocket of the sitter and eventually suc-
ceeded in replacing it in the original pocket. This was
very difficult, as he did not dare to take his eyes from
the eyes of the sitter during the entire experiment.
It seems incredible that the medium could have taken
the letter from the breast pocket of his visitor and re-
place it unnoticed, but professional pickpockets can do
even more extraordinary things, and the medium was
well versed in tricks of sleight-of-hand. The main
feature of the performance consisted in overawing the
skeptical sitter to such an extent that he had not suf-
ficient power of concentration left to observe either the
Blching of the letter or its replacement My friend,
however, from his hiding-place, could calmly observe
the performance, and he saw how in spite of difficulties
the medium finally succeeded.
The medium's manner now grew (
excitement seemed to disappear and 1
of the situation. He i^aid that althouf)
to him an unbeliever, and although h-
and thus help to estal' |irop< r
were required for thi '„iri
really believed the sit :li<>
cordin^y would soMpi
a great el^ort and giv
"I have decided thst :
lies, ail
iletnnn
' JON
i *
26 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
medium then allowed his person violently to convulse
while he conversed with the spirits of the empty air
and questioned them. He had great difficulty in hear-
ing their voices, but finally letter by letter spelled out
the gentleman's name for him, which was, "John A.
Crow.''
This startled the sitter greatly and the medium then
said, "You are a great skeptic, but I will convince you
yet. I will tell you where you live." Then repeating:
his process of conversing with the shades of the de-
parted, he got the street number of the gentleman's
home, which was Twentv-three hundred and some-
thing North Twenty-fourth Street, Omaha, Neb.
This put the sitter completely at the mercy of this
man of mystery. The medium now said : "I see mines
and mining. You are having some trouble there. But
it is not about mines ; yet there are mines there, for I
see them. Yes, you are in some serious trouble, and I
keep seeing mines, mines, mines everywhere. I see
this trouble, but it is not about mines." Then finally
he said, "I get the name of Deadwood. Your trouble
is at Deadwood." The sitter acknowledged this to be
the case.
Now the facts were that the sitter had just received
this letter from an attorney in Deadwood, and it was
about a serious personal matter. The medium had of
course gained all his information from this letter. The
sitter had evidently just received the letter and placed
it in his breast pocket. While it was worrying him,
he had called on the medium to consult him about the
matter uppermost in his mind.
Well, this performance converted the sitter thor-
oughly. He paid the medium two dollars for the sit-
ting. He also paid the medium twenty dollars more.
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 2J
as remuneration for his services wherein the medium
agreed to exert his spiritual influence in behalf of the
sitter in the before-mentioned trouble.
My friend thinks that the gentleman remains a be-
liever until this day, although he is not personally ac-
quainted with him.
The influence of a medium over a subject is very
great when once the subject has been convinced. I
know the case of a quite fleshy gentleman who con-
sulted Dr. Schlossenger, (a medium described in a
later chapter) in regard to reducing his flesh.
Dr. Schlossenger was really one of the most expert
mediums I have ever met or of whom I have ever
heard. This gentleman was thoroughly converted by
the doctor. He consulted him in regard to what treat-
ment he should take for failing health, induced by ex-
cessive flesh and other troubles. He was directed to
drink no water or other liquid for thirty days. He was
allowed to eat fruit, but was to use only a scanty diet
of any kind. This gentleman actually followed these
instructions. He reduced his flesh some, but I rather
think he was weakened somewhat by such heroic treat-
ment. He is a worthy gentleman, a respected citizen,
and a man of some influence. He told me personally
that when his thirst became unb^^^e he used a
little fruit, and was Ihus able to eaJ^Hjb thirst.
I know another gentleman, wh^^^^^H^te this,
is being treated by a fraudulent ^^^^^^Kthis city
for granulated eye-lids. He h
with no sticcess, so perhfipft f;
medicine has faile(t i Hw
that this medium m
28 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
V.
Sometimes expert professional mediums originate
some good trick and successfully g^ard its secret from
the public for years. As an instance of this I will de-
scribe one that was originated by a first-class medium
some years ago. This medium had many superior
tricks at his command, but unfortunately he left the
city too suddenly for my friend, the advertising agent,
to get a good description of most of them. The me-
dium had greatly bewildered the public ; but about this
time a brother in the profession succeeded in getting
twelve hundred dollars from a confiding person, and
as this was about to be discovered he took his depar-
ture. This made such a stir that the medium first re-
ferred to also left the citv.
This second medium effected this financial coup de
maitre in the following manner. A lady was in some
sort of financial difficulty, — a, law-suit over an estate
or something of the kind. She had this money and
desired the medium's spiritual aid. He consulted the
spirits and did as they directed which was as follows :
The money was to be sealed up in an envelope in a
certain manner, and the lady was to conceal this en-
velope in a safe place unopened for a period of thirty
days, during which time the charm was to work and
the ladv to win her suit. Of course, the medium ex-
changed envelopes for the lady, and she concealed one
containing some pieces of paper. During the thirty
days which the medium intended to remain in Omaha,
the lady happened to grow short of finances, and went
to the medium to borrow enough to pay her house
rent. This medium was a man of considerable intelli-
gence, but he had poor judgment. He refused the
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 29
lady this loan, claiming to be short of funds himself.
As a result, the lady decided to open the envelope, un-
known to the medium, and remove the amount needed.
The consequence was that the medium hurriedly left
town.
The trick which the first medium originated I will
now describe. He called it "The Mystic Oracle of the
Swinging Pendulums, or Mind over Matter," Briefly,
it consisted in the medium apparently causing any
pendulum, ' which might be selected from a number
hanging on a frame or in a number of bottles, to
vibrate or swing in response to his will. There was
absolutely no mechanical or electrical connection to
any of the pendulums whatever. Most of these pen-
dulums consisted of a bullet suspended by a piece of
hair wire. On a few of them glass marbles of various
sizes were used instead of bullets.
When the pendulums were suspended inside of bot-
tles, the bottles were corked shut and the pendulums
were suspended from the center of the corks. The
bottles used were of different sizes and shapes, and the
pendulums were of various lengths, and were painted
various colors. In one bottle was a cross from which
hung three pendulums in the same bottle. These bot-
tles were standing upon a ciiUlt lalik-.
In the center of the top of tliis small til'' ^ 1
an upright brass rod about two feet lii^!
a cup on its top which contained one h<iM
was made steady by gny wires runnini,' :
to the four corners of the taW'' T'l -
rod near the top of this vcriii
ably eighteen inches long, i
various pendulums some of v.
glasses, or goblets, at their ias-
30 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
had glasses stationed on either side of them so that the
pendulums would ring them when swinging. He also
had two tripods which were erected from three brass
rods and from the center of which hung a pendulum
inside a glass goblet. These tripods were to stand on
the same table with the cross and bottles. All rods
were plated and neatly finished.
The trick consisted in the medium, by the mere
power of his will, causing any pendulum to swings and
strike the sides of the bottle or glass within which it
hung, and answer questions by its taps.
When the company called upon him, he brought the
tripods and bottles from a corner of the room, and
placed them on this center table. This table was an
ordinary light center table with a small cover. There
were many pendulums thus in view of the spectators
who stood around the table. The medium seated him-
self at the table and placed his hands lightly upon it,
as spiritualists do when summoning the departed.
The medium then requested any one to select the
pendulum he desired to have answer his quesions.
When this was done the medium gazed intently at it,
and lo. it slowly began to move ! It gained in ampli-
tude at each swing until it struck the sides of the
bottle or goblet within which it hung, giving the re-
quired number of raps on the glass.
After this pendulum answered the questions asked,
another pendulum could be selected by any spectator.
This one to the amazement of all would slowly begin
to swing and repeat all the maneuvers of the first one,
while the first one would gradually cease swinging.
This could be tried any number of times and was al-
ways successful no matter which pendulum was se-
lected.
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 3I
My friend assured me that of all the tricks he had
ever witnessed, this one mystified him most ; and, in
fact, he could discover no cine to the secret of the trick.
The room was bare of furniture or carpet, and was
well lighted. The center table could be moved about,
thoroughly inspected, and the apparatus thoroughly
examined for concealed wires, threads, etc. The bot-
tles could be removed and inspected at any time, and
even the cork? taken out and the pendulums examined :
yet all absolutely obeyed the medium's will.
This trick, I believe, is unknown to the dealers in
secrets for the use of mediums, and to the best of my
knowledge has never become known. Accordingly,
I will g^ve the secret to the readers of this book, so that
any one with just a little practice can operate the trick.
I have constructed the apparatus and worked it very
successfully, so that I am certain about the matter.
The idea is very simple, being merely a little scien-
tific principle practically applied. Each pendulum is
of a length different from all of the others. As a re-
sult each one swings in k different time period. We
will illustrate this by saying that one swings one time
per second, another two times per second, etc. It is
now evident that if an impulse be given to the table
supporting the apparatus, all of the pcndultu
make a slight vibration, but eacii one will
different time. When any pendulum retui
diately starts in the reverse direction.
particular one receive a second impulse J
ticular instant of returning, its ^ccifI'iI <
slightly increased in amplitude. < '
again receive another impulse ;l1 'i
will again move a trifle farther in 1:
be repeated until the pendulum wili
32 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
a vibration of sufficient amplitude to strike the g^lass.
And now let us take one pendulum swinging say ten
times per minute. It must receive just exactly ten
impulses per minute in order to increase the amplitude
of its swing. It must also receive these impulses at
the proper instant. If more than ten impulses are
given, or if they are given in an irregular manner, the
pendulum will finally stop its motion. It is evident,
then, that all the other pendulums vibrating in differ-
ent intervals such as twenty, twenty-five, etc., times
per minute, will not be aflFected by these impulses in a
proper manner to cause their vibration to increase.
In fact, the impulses given, being out of tune, or
rather out of time, with their motions, will tend to
bring them to rest. They will dance about, and move
a little in an indefinite manner, while the one selected
will appear to have life and intelligence; and it will
move in a definite manner, as if accomplishing an
object or purpose, which in fact it is doing.
The impulses are given by a slight pressure or vibra-
tion applied to the table by the medium's hands. He
merely watches the pendulum selected and times his
impulses with that one's motions. The impulses are
very slight and the operator must not become impa-
tient, but must be content to take his time, for if he
uses too much force it can be seen by the spectators.
With a proper table and a proper apparatus, the merest
pressure is sufficient, if repeated at the proper times,
to gradually start any pendulum swinging. This pres-
sure must be so slight as not to be observed, and a
cover on the table helps to conceal the slight move-
ments of the hands. The hands should be placed under
the cover so as to come into contact with the wood
of the table and establish "proper conditions," the
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS, 33
cover thus hiding the movements of the hands. Any
one trying this with his hands under the cover and in
a careful manner, will be surprised at its effect on
those who witness.it.
All of the pendulums that are not in tune with the
medium's impulses will move about slightly in an er-
ratic manner, but the selected one will start right out
and exhibit intelligence and design in its movements.
from the moment it is selected. It will be found that
all of the pendulums are moving a little all the time ;
as the vibrations of the building, the movements of the
persons in the room, and the jar of setting up the
apparatus, etc., prevents their coming to absolute rest.
Accordingly, when a pendulum is selected, it is already
moving somewhat, although possibly in the wrong
direction. The operator merely times his impulses
with its movements, and it soon changes its direction
to the proper one, and its movements assume definite
form.* I will state that the longer pendulums require
the heavier weights, and bottles of larger diameter.
Another medium had a model of a lady's hand. The
room was bare of furniture excepting cliairs. The
spectators were seated in a circle, and four of them
held a large swinging glass plate by four ribbons at-
tached to its corners. They held this plate so that
when it hung down between them, it really formed
level table some six inches above the floor : and it v
supported merely by the aforesaid ribbons in the
ter's hands. On this glass table the hand was pli
This hand was evenly balanced so that a slight J
* An excellent article nii ihe principle wliich this trick ili
traies is entilled "The MeclianiMn of Sympathy," and can
found in The Open Court for Kebruary, cSg?.
34 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
I
sure applied on its fingers would cause it to tilt for-
ward and tap the plate. Now if the sitters sat quietly
and asked this hand any questions whatever, it would
reply correctly by tapping on the plate.
The medium did not have to ask the questions;
neither did the questions have to be timed to suit any
internal mechanism within the hand. No particular line
of "patter" had to be used. One could simply ask any
question he might choose and the hand would answer
him. There was absolutely no outside connection to
the hand in any manner, and no machinery within the
hand. All could be thoroughly examined; and the
usual thread, that so many performers use, was im-
possible in this case, owing to the conditions.
The secret is an old one. Many readers of this book
will remember the "Light and Heavy Chest" of the
old-time conjurors. The performer could lift it from
the stage, but no committee of the spectators was
strong enough to raise it. It will be remembered by
those who know this trick, that the chest contained soft
iron ; that under the floor where it sat was a powerful
electro-magnet, through which the performer's assist-
ant turned a current of electricity, causing the mag-
netic force to be exerted just as the committee at-
tempted to lift the chest. They were thus unable to
move it, so strong was the magnetic force. The prin-
ciple used in operating this hand was the same. In the
fingers was soft iron. Under the floor was a powerfinl.
electro-magnet. The medium's assistant, from an ad^
joining room listened to the questions through a
cealed tube ; and at the proper time he pressed a
ton, sending into the magnet the current which
strong enough to draw down the fingers and cause
hand to rap.
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
An intelligent and influential gentleman once told
me of a most wonderful experience that he had in his
home town. A lady medium came to the town and be-
gan giving the most wonderful tests. It created much
talk and great excitement in the town. He finally de-
cided to call on this lady. She was a stranger in the
city, had just arrived, and no one had ever seen her
before. When persons called on her, she asked no
questions whatever, but at once gave them the most
marvelous exhibition of her unheard-of powers.
This gentleman accordingly called on her, and he
was certain that she could not have known him in any
way. As soon as the sitting began, this lady told the
gentleman his name, the number of persons in his
family that were living, also the number that were
dead. She gave him the names of all of them, de-
scribed his home to him, and told him many of the
principal events of his life without any questions being;
asked. She then summoned the spirits of his dead and
delivered their messages to him.
This gentleman, although very intelligent, was so
greatly impressed that he thought to test her powers
further. He accordingly sent other members of his
family to her, and they met with the same experience.
The medium immediately told each of %
and repeated the first performance,
then had other friends call on the i
result was always the same. The j
greatly mystified, and the medium's
continually crowded /n '■ tier short s
days she left, going ' Iut city.
The principle «lw U:r .s ill explain
. Itirihc
36 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
on. Another medium doing this same worit traveled
for years in small towns, of from two to three thou-
sand population. The method she pursued was this:
She would, on entering town, quietly leam the name
of some one of the oldest citizens of the place. She
would select one that had always attended all public
places and who was thoroughly familiar with every
one.
She would then approach this person, explain her
business to him and close a contract by which he
should have half of the proceeds of the readings ; and
in return for the same he was to furnish the necessary
information, and to guard the secret well.
She always made him sign a written contract which
bound him to secrecy, and which would afterwards
effectually prevent him from making public his share
in the transaction ; as his fellow -townsmen would see,
if this contract were made public, that he had helped
to fleece them.
The medium then engaged suitable rooms, and her
assistant was each day concealed at an early hour in
the rear part of the apartments. A small hole wat
made in the wall and concealed by some draperies, I
through which the assistpnt could watch and identify )
those calling for readings. The medium usually ex— J
cused herself a moment to get a drink of water or toM
attend to some trifling duty before giving her reading, J
leaving the caller waiting for a few moments. During, J
this time she would inform herself fully of the hislxjcy 9
of the caller. '■^
She sometimes used a couch ; and when doing "^ - "
lay on it while in her trances, repeating to tl'
the proper subject matter to place such si
pletely at her mercy.
I
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 37
When using this couch she secretly adjusted a small
rubber tube to her ear next to the wall. This tube
came through the wall, at a small hole near the floor
in the base-board ; and it had at its farther end, in the
other room, a mouthpiece into which her confederate
whispered the information. When she received such
information, she of course elaborated on it, and pro-
duced it in the labored manner common to mediums,
with much additonal matter which she could surmise
and deduce from the sitter's own conversation.
Her readings were so marvelous and successful that
she simply coined money in each town, carrying away
several hundred dollars in a few days. Her assistant
was so well satisfied with this that he gladly kept her
secrets.
The method pursued by the medium first referred
to was a variation of the last trick. She rented a store
building with no partitions in it. She stretched cur-
tains, which made very good partitions, so that the
rear of the buJldii^; was hidden from callers, it being
in daricness. Homrever, as the front of the building
was lighted from the windows, the confederate behind
the curtain could see through the curiaiii and sue the
subject plainly. ^^^^
The medium toobfl^HK a second assistant who
was a telegraph 'OH^^^^H^en giving a reading she
sat near the CfaM^^^^^^fatl allowed her fnnt In ex-
tend from uml^^^^^^^Uo a posili'ni under the
curtain. Thil^^^^^^^^^kcd by the hut
the travetini: ^^^^^^^^B^ the citrtiiiTi
enabled i<< ^^^^^^Hnnt all the
using Iht- I ^^^^^^^Pl^'" while
federate •> ^^^^^^^^ was able In ^iw
38 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
gers their names and the most marvelous information
in the most startling manner. She worked many towns
in western Nebraska most successfully.
Another medium used a similar method in large
cities; but being unable to have a local confederate
acquainted with those who might call, he adopted
the plan of remaining behind a heavy curtain himself,
while a confederate sat outside, apparently being a
caller waiting his turn for a reading. This confederate
would fall into conversation with other callers who
were waiting, and would introduce himself in a man-
ner that would call for a like confidence from the
caller.
This confederate zvould then graciously yield his
turn to the subject, as he was in no hurry. The sub-
ject would then be taken behind the curtain to the
medium, who retired behind a second curtain for a
moment before giving the reading. This second cur-
tain ran lengthwise with the room and met the cross
curtain in its center. When the medium was out of
sight of the sitter, the confederate passed the informa-
tion through a slit in the front curtain to the medium
in the second rear apartment. The medium had a city
directory handy, and thus he could startle the stranger
by giving his name, and by giving an address where
the sitter then lived, or had previously lived.
Sometimes mediums get information from the hat or
coat of a sitter, by having a polite porter receive him
and relieve him of his wraps. This porter, as soon
as the subject leaves the hall- way, immediately exam-
ines the aforesaid articles for a name, letter, etc. The
last two methods can not always be relied upon, but
succeed often enough to cause much talk and comment
HALF HOUtlS WITH MEDIUMS.
on the marvelous powers of the medium ; and thus
they bring him many a dollar.
Not so very long ago I met a friend — a man of
wealth, who was a firm believer in spiritualism, and
who frequently conversed with his dead wife and
daughter. I asked him if he could inform me whether
or not there were any good mediums in the city, as I
should like to consult one.
He replied that at present there were none in Omaha
of any well developed psychic powers; that he was
entirely satisfied on the subject and did not require
any demonstrations to convince himself of the truths
of spiritual science. He informed me that the question
was settled beyond all dispute ; but that if I were skep-
tical, there was said to be a medium in Council Bluffs
who possessed most wonderful powers.
I accordingly made other inquiries from "those who
were in a position to know ; and I learned that this
medium, a celebrated "Doctor of the Occult, Astrol-
oger, Palmist and Spirit Medium," was at that time
giving private sittings in Council Bluffs to earnest in-
quirers only, for the small sum of two dollars.
I was informed that his performances were of the
most wonderful nature : that there was no possibiUtv
of trickery of any kind ; that he told you whatever »
desired to know, without your even asking him; t
in addition to this, he had powers over the elem
of nature ; and. in fact, I was led to believe that he
a true sorcerer of the olden days.
I determined at once to call on this renownw
sonage, and try to secure a little info- m frf
world. Accordingly, one y afl
40 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
I took. the car that crossed the river, and in due time
arrived at the apartments of this wonderful doctor.
I was met at the door by an attendant, who accepted
the fee and directed me to enter the rooms of this
mysterious pjerson quietly ; and if I found him em-
ployed, by no means to disturb him, but merely to await
his pleasure; that he was frequently conversing with
unseen beings, or deep in some astrological compu-
tation, and at such times it was not safe to disturb him.
With a beating heart I entered the room where he
was to be found. This room was a large one. I did
not see him at first. What attracted my attention was
a large map or painting on a piece of canvas which
hung on a wall space in the room. This painting* had
a representation of the sun in its center. This could
be discovered by the rays which radiated from it in
all directions. Around this sun were many stars, and
an occasional planet, among which Saturn and its
rings were very prominently depicted. There were
numerous pictures of animals and men, and of queer
monsters, scattered amongst the stars.
Beneath this picture stood a large golden oak table
at which sat this delver into the occult, deeply en-
grossed in a study of this painting ; while with a little
brush he figured and calculated, in a queer sort of
Chinese characters, which he drew on a sheet of paper.
He also seemed to be making a strange drawing- on
the vsame paper. He was far too deeply engaged to
notice my entrance, and continued at his labors for
some time, while I stood quietly and watched him.
Sitting on one end of this rather large table was a
glass globe or vessel, supported by three nickeled rods,
something like a tripod. Coming from the wall was
a rather larg^e nickeled tube or pipe which curved over
HALF HOUKS WITH MEDIUMS. 4I
above the glass vessel, and continually allowed drops
of water to fall into the globe. From the side of this
glass vessel there led a small nickeled pipe which evi-
dently carried away the waste water.
Occasionally a little blue flame would appear on the
surface of this water, play about, and disappear. When
this happened the body of the medium was always con-
vulsed slightly.
After a time he seemed to finish his calculation, and
this seer condescended to leave the realms of the stars
wherein dwelt the spirits that rule the universe and the
destinies of men, and to descend to earth and for a
time direct his gaze towards this humble mortal. He
turned around and observed me for the first time. He
was a large, portly, fine-looking gentleman of middle
age, with very long black hair which gave him a
strange appearance. He wore a pair of glasses low
down on his nose : and from over these he conde-
scended to direct his gaze at, and to study me for a
moment as a naturalist might study some specimen
that happened temporarily to attract his notice.
He soon informed me that the stars had told him
something of my coming and of the question that was
worrjing me; and he asked me if I desired to consult
the stars as to my destiny, to have him decipher
from the lines of my palm, or whether I should pi
to converse with the dead. The last was my choi
\ot far from a window at one side of the rooi
was a small table on which were a few artk
directed me to be seated at this table, and h
a slip of paper of a size of probably foo
inches. He directed me to write the quest ■ I
answered on this paper, and when throui f
paper in halves three times with the v. ^'
42 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
I did SO while he walked to his bowl of water appar-
ently paying no attention to me, and then returned.
When he had returned to a position opposite me at
the table, he reached to take my writing out of my
hand ; seeing which I quickly bent down one comer of
the paper and gave it to him. He directed one sharp
glance at me as I did this, at the same time picking* up
an envelope from the table with his other hand. He
held this envelope open flap side towards me, and
slowly inserted my paper into it. As he did this, look-
ing sharply at me, he remarked, "I am no sleight-of-
hand performer. You see your question is actually in
the envelope." This was the case ; for it was close to
me and I could plainly see the top of it against the
back of the envelope, the lower portions being in-
serted : and I could see the little corner folded down,
as I had bent it, and I was certain he had not ex-
changed it. In fact he took occasion to use his hands
in such manner that I could see there was nothing con-
cealed about them, that he "palmed" nothing, and that
he made no exchange. I was entirely satisfied that all
was fair, and that no exchange had been made.
Next, he sealed the envelope, and holding it towards
the window, called my attention to the fact that as
the envelope was partly transparent I could see my
paper within it and that it was actually there. This
was really the case. He now took a match, and light-
ing it applied the flame to this identical envelope with-
out its leaving my sight ; and proceeded to burn the
last vestige of it and the paper within it, allowing the
ashes to drop into a small vessel on the table.
There was no doubt that he did not exchange en-
velopes and that he burned it before my very eyes.
He now took the ashes and emptied them into the bowl
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 43
of water on the side table. A little blpe flame appeared
on the surface of the water after that for a moment,
and then disappeared.
He now brought from a drawer a number of slates —
about eight or ten small slates with padded edges.
They were the smallest size of slates, I should judge ;
and with them he brought another slate, a trifle larger,
probably two inches both longer and wider. He re-
quested me to examine thoroughly or to clean them all
to my own satisfaction, and to stack the small ones on
the table, one on top of the other; and when all were
thus placed, to place the large slate on top of the stack.
While I was doing this he called to his attendant for
a drink of water, and incidentally stepped into the hall
to receive it, so that his menial would not profane this
sanctuary with his presence.
Returning to the table he took a seat opposite me
and placed one of my hands and one of his on top of
the slates. In due time he took up the slates and we
found nothing. He replaced tJiem, and waited for a
few moments : then seeming dissatisfied with con-
ditions, he took up the top slale in his left hand and
with his right hand began writing a message for me.
He did this like mediums do automatic writing, with
eyes half close<l ; and while writing his person was con-
vulsed a few times. He then opened his eyes and read
aloud what he had written, asking me if it answered
my question. I replied that it did not, as it was en-
tirely foreign to the subject. Then seeming dissatis-
fied, he moistened his fingers, erased the writing, and
replaced the top state on the slack of slates.
He now pjacctl his hands on this slate again, and
after a time examined it : but it was still free from
writing. He lifted up some of the other slates; but ;
44 UALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. -
there was no writing, he scattered the slates around
on the table and asked me to spread a large cloth over
them which he handed to me. This I did, and under
his direction placed my arms and hands over this. He
walked to the bowl of water on the side table, and
gazed into it. I watched him ; and I saw a rather
large flame appear on the surface of the water, dance
about, and disappear.
He immediately informed me that he was certain
that I now had a message. He remained at a distance
while I examined the slates one by one. Finally, on
one of them I found a message, neatly written and
covering the entire slate. It read:
"Mrs. Piper is a genuine medium. She possesses
powers of a very unusual nature. Her tests given
Hyslop and others are genuine. Do not be a skeptic.
You are making a mistake, dear friend. It is all plain
to me now, and spirit is all there is. — Will."
Now, the question I had written was addressed to
a very dear friend who is now dead, and read as fol-
lows :
"Will J — : In regard to the medium, Mrs. Piper, of
whom we conversed on your last visit, I would ask if
she be genuine, and if the tests she gave Professor
Hyslop and others were genuine. Give me a test."
This was all nicely done, and I am sure would have
greatly impressed nearly every one. Being a per-
former myself, I could of course follow the perform-
ance in minute detail, and I am thus enabled to give to
the readers of this paper a detailed account of the
method used by the doctor. I will state that since that
time I have very successfully operated this same test,
minus the bowl of water and flame of fire ; and that I
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 45
can assure all that it is very practicable and that it is
very deceptive.
When the medium picked up the envelcpe in which
to place nty paper, there was within it a duplicate piece
of paper fol(le<l the same, an<l of the same size (one
inch and a quarter by two inches) as the one I had
folded. He kept the face of this envelope opposite me
so I coiild not see that side of it. On the face of it was
a horizontal slit cut with a knife. This slit was about
two inches long and was situated about half way down
the face of the envelope. The duplicate folded paper
was placed vertically in the envelope at its center, so
that its center was located against the slit. This piece
of paper was held in position by a touch of paste at a
point opposite the slit, which caused it to adhere to
the inside of the back of the envelope.
When he picked up this prepared envelope with his
left hand, he did so with the slit side or face in his
palm next to the fingers of his left han<l. This en-
velope lay slit side down before he picked it up; so
that I did not see the face of the envelope at all, and
he kept that side of the envelope from me during the
entire trick. The paper within the envelope had been
placed far enough down so that its top part waf
exposed to my view. The envelope thus appi
perfectly natural, as an ordinary one with w
in it.
He thus held the envelope in His left hand, fli
wide, with the back side of the envelope late
sealed, facing me. Now he really inserted m;
in this envelope with his right hand as he
from me: but in fact, he pushed it down jii ■
the hidden slip of paper within the enveloj-
that he inserted it between the concealed
46 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
face or slit side of the envelope; and as he did this
he caused the lower end of my slip of paper to pass
through the slit in the center of the front of the en-
velope. The lower portion of my slip was thus out
of the envelope on its rear side, between the front of
the envelope and the fingers of his left hand ; although
I could see nothing of this. He pushed it down so
that the top still remained in view with the bent comer
exposed, and then sealed the flap over it.
Holding the envelope towards the window, he called
to my notice the fact that my paper was within, and
that I could see it plainly. I could see the shadow of
the two papers, which appeared as one, and thus his
statement seemed correct. Of course he did not show
me the rear side or face of the envelope, with my
paper protruding, which was immediately behind the
duplicate, so that the shadow of it was also the shadow
of the duplicate.
This shadow also hid from my view the shadow of
the slit. The envelope was sealed fairly.
Now with his right hand he moved a small vessel on
the table towards himself. Then taking the envelope
in his right hand, slit side downward, he held it close
to this vessel ; at the same time with his left hand he
took a match from his pocket and proceeded to bum
the envelope. This move concealed the trick ; and it
was very deceiving and cleverly done.* As he took
the envelope from his left hand with his right hand.
he, with his left fingers touching the protmding por-
tion of my slip, caused it to remain in his left hand
and to be drawn entirely out of the slit. His eyes
followed the envelope as his right hand took it ; whidi
naturally caused my eyes to follow it. as his attention
seemed centered on the envelope and it appeared to
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 4/
occupy the stage of action. This move was executed
in a moment, not requiring any time worth mentioning,
although it takes so long to describe it on paper in-
telHgibly. Now while his eyes (and of course mine)
followed the envelope, without pause his left hand
went into his left pocket in a natural manner to get the
match. He, of course, left my slip in his pocket with
his surplus matches ; and when he retired for the drink
of water, he read my question.
As to the slate trick, all was fair until he picked up
the top slate, wrote an automatic message, apparently
read it aloud to me, and then upon my informing him
that the message did not answer my question, he
seemed dissatisfied, apparently erased the message, antl
replaced the large slate on top of the stack of slates.
What he really did was to pick up the large top slate,
bottom side towards himself, and at the same time to
carry with it a small slate pressed tightly against its
under side. He held the large slate with its under side
tilted from me, so I could not see this small slate.
There being so many small slates in the stack, the
temporary absence of one from the stack attracted no
notice.
He kept this small slate next to him out of my view.
and realty wrote the message on Ike small slate
jvas ne.rt to him, and which was concealed fro
z'iew by the larger slate. He did not read alou
he had actually written but merely pretended tc
repeating something entirely foreign to the i
instead. What he had written reallv answen
question fully. When he appeare'1 -e the i
sage, his movements were but a |i- and he
not erase it at all. When he rcpl. .<.- laJ^Sf^-
48 HALF HOURS WitH MEDIUMS.
on the stack of slates, he, of course, replaced the small
one which was concealed under it, message side down.
It must be remembered that the operator, at the be-
ginning of the slate trick, first took up and examined
the large slate a time or so for a message ; and finding
none, seemed disappointed, and finally wrote the auto-
matic message : then on being informed that it did not
apply to the case, he seemed dissatisfied and appeared
to erase it.
After the message was written and the slates re-
placed, he examined the top slate a time or so, and even
lifted off a few small slates looking for writing, but did
not turn them over ; then seeing nothing, he scattered
the slates around on the table, leaving their same sides
downwards; and handing me the cover, he requested
me to cover them and place my hands on them.
The trick was now practically done. As the slates
had been examined so many times and nothing found
on them, et'cn after the autotnatic writing, the majority
of persons would testify that there was positively noth-
ing on the slates when the medium left the table. The
majority of persons would never remember that he at
one time wrote on the large slate and erased it. The
message being on a small slate, and these being spread
around, few would have known that this messag;e
really appeared on the particular small slate that was
originally next the top of the stack.
Most people would have certified that they cleaned
all of the slates themselves, that the medium never
touched any of the small ones, and that he only laid
his hands on top of the stack a few times. Some would
even forget that the medium handled their writing at
all before burning it.
I am sure that the nickeled tube that carried the
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 49
dripping water into the space over the glass bowl, had
a second tube within it ; through which his assistant
from the adjoining room either blew, or sent by some
mechanism, the chemicals {probably potassium) that
would take fire and bum on striking the water.
When I perform the slate trick described above,
after writing the "automatic" message, apparently
erasing it, and replacing the slates, I do not scatter the
slates around on the table as this medium did. In-
stead. I proceed as I will now describe.
We place our palins on the stack, and after a time
examine the large slate for a message, but find none.
I may .incidentally remark that this last examination
unconsciously verifies in the sitter's mind the fact that
I actually erased what I wrote "automatically."
I naw look on some of the smaller slates for a
message, but find none. When I do this I do not turn
these slates over and look on their under sides, but
merely take off the top slate to see if there be a mes-
sage on the upper surface of the one under it. I
merely remark, "Well, there is nothing on that slate.
indicating the second one fn.1111 the tO|
same time I drop the top slate (now i
I the table beside the stack. I immediately
second slate and repeat this same perftti
I ping it on top of the first one. I keen
I performance until I have remi'\-
i slates, and have them stacked <'■■
I the first one. Then seeming '
I remark. "I guess there is no ' ■
the second stack on the first
I message slate four or five ^1
50 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
as the bottom slate of the second stack, being the top
slate of the original stack, is now the message slate.
I next up-edge the small slates and place a rubber
band around them placing them in the sitter's lap. I,
of course, place what was the top of the stack down-
wards when I do so. As the stack is on the side edges
of the slates when I first up-edge them, I next bring
them uf)on the end edges, while I put the band in place.
It is now easy to place the stack of slates upon the sit-
ter's lap with the top slate down and to attract no
notice to this fact. This is because the position has
been changed a time or so in placing the band on ; and
I then take the stack in my hands by the edges of the
slates, and simply place what was the top side of the
stack in the beginning, at the bottom.
In due time I tell the subject to make an examination
for a message, and of course four or five slates down
he finds a message on the upper surface of one of the
slates.
This seems very miraculous, as the slates have been
so repeatedly examined and nothing found. Finding
the message on the upper surface of a middle slate,
where but a moment before there was nothing, seems
to be truly a marvel. The subject having cleaned and
stacked these slates himself, and having seen them
examined so many times, naturally feels impressed that
the message comes by some super-human power.
VIII.
•
There is a lady medium in Omaha who is the wife of
a prominent citizen. She is afflicted, being nearly blind.
This lady, in her seances, produces large quantities of
cut flowers, which she claims to materialize from their
"astral forms." Most persons would think that a lady
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
of her standing, and afflicted in the manner she is.
would not deceive.
The ladies at her seances are allowct] to thoronnhly
examine her clothing, her cabinet and the room; and
when nothing suspicions is found she enters her cab-
inet in fidl light, an<l as she materializes the flowers
she passes them out over the cabinet top,
I have never witncssc<l one of her seances myself.
but I have talke<l to several who have done so. They
are almost all firm believers. The flowers are nature's
own production, and have nature's sap within them.
They are compose<l of cells formed by Ki'owth, the
same as other plants. All of this can be verified under
the microscope. The spirits claim to de materialize
these flowers and bring the "astral forms" of them
through sjMce ; and then through the occult powers of
the medium, they are enabled to materialize them again
for the benefit of unbelieving mortals.
I have good reason to believe that her flowers are
furnished by a greenhouse in Council Bluffs. Some
years ago before the medium was afflicte
ing eyesight, and when she was a widow, u
was her profession. She was known as I
and had rooms where she held seances for n
At that time she did not work from a ca)
light, but in a bare, unfumishc
She would allow her cIcjIIj
the ladies, and would then, ai
ered, walk about within the et*
presenting them to different
able message. My friend,
tended some of these
medium, after producing
invariably return to a
52 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
after which she would produce some more flowers.
She always did this in the same manner; so he be^n
to notice who sat in the position to which she always
returned.
He found a lady there who was the wife of a certain
sleight-of-hand performer of this city. This lady sat
l>etwcen the servant of the medium and the medium's
daughter in all cases. He became convinced that these
parties were the confederates of the medium and that
the flowers were concealed under the skirts of the
middle lady.
.Accordingly, one time, in conversation with this
confederate, he spoke of her "smooth work," just as
if he knew it as a matter of course. The confederate
then said, "Did Madam — tell you?" and laughed.
She confessed that she had a large pocket under her
skirt running around like a sack, in which were the
flowers. When the confederate entered the room the
medium invariably began her seance at once, so as to
keep any one from noticing the fulness of the con-
federate's skirts.
My friend had also noticed that when the spectators
were few, flowers were numerous : and that when
there were a large number of spectators the flowers
were scarce. Tliis first led him to suspect that she
had always the same quantity, and that she always
exhausted her stock, as the flowers were perishable
l>roperty.
One day this friend was in the medium's rooms
when a messenger boy arrived with a basket of the
regulation flowers. They were from Council Bluffs,
My friend looked at the medium and smiled. She re-
turned the smile and remarked, "Can you keep a se-
cret ?" She was evidently going to confide in him ; but
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. S3
just then there appeared a caller for a private reading,
and the opportunity passed. When she rtumed to the
room, she seemed to have changed her mind, and noth-
ing was said.
I think she uses no confederate in her present home,
as she now works in full light : but I feel confident that
a trap could be found in the walls or base board be-
hind her cabinet. It is probably constructed some-
thing like one I describe in the chapter on material-
izing. If this be the case and it be well made, it might
be diflBcult to locate the secret latch that opens it.
I may incidentally mention that the son of this lady
confederate afterwards became a medium of some re-
nown. He learned under a traveling professional me-
dium, and grew to be very expert. He is out over the
world, now following his profession. I know the town
wherein he is now wintering, as a clairvoyant and
trance medium.
The lady medium described above, operated in Den-
ver, Colorado, for a long time.
In the spiritualistic part of the realm of trickery,
fashion has played a not unimportant role. in
as the first mediums could induce the spir'
departed to return to this earth and rap on
furniture, the fashion rapidly spread and m^
over the country sprang up with exactly t
powers. The fa.shion remains to this day;
there is a book on the market, being a com
one of the founders of this religion, to the «
her work was fraudulent. As soon as a leb
dium spoke of his magnetic powers, all of the;
in the country had magnetic powers, which
54 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
to say, could act on wood, and could also act in ways
in which magnetism was never known to act.
As soon as a leading medium started the fashion of
having an Indian guide, all of the mediums in the
country had Indian guides. Unto this day this fashion
is still in vogue. Some mediums now have as manv
as forty or fifty guides. This is more especially true
among the non-professional mediums— those who really
can give no tests, as they are not versed in the art of
trickery. At some of the materializing seances of a
certain medium, as he relates it to me, one of the most
amusing features is the frequent disputes and quarrels
of this class of persons over certain guides which he
materializes, and which each claims as his own. '
The next fashion was the dark seance. This alwavs
seemed so imreasonable to me, and such evidence of
trickery, that I have always been surprised that other-
wise intelligent persons could give credence to such
performances. I have refrained from describing any
of the tricks of this class heretofore, as I did not con-
sider them of sufficient importance to justify any at-
tention. However, a recent occurrence of this kind
came under my notice, and I found the effect so great
on persons of some education, that I have decided to
give my experience of the case to the readers of this
book.
One evening, not so very long ago, just as I was
about to retire for the night, my door bell rang ; and
I found some ladies at my door. I knew one of them,
and she explained the lateness of the call by saying
that a party of friends and herself had been discussing
occult phenomena, and that she had mentioned the
fact that I possessed a crystal globe for cr>'stal gazing.
Immediately all of the ladies were full of enthusiasm.
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
55
and she cotild g;et no peace until she brought them to
me.
I found that these ladies had, a day or so previously,
called on a couple of mediums in the neighboring city
of Council Bluffs ; and that they there had had a most
marvelous experience. Each of the ladies had a sitting
with the lady medium ; and as their experiences were
similar, I will relate the experience of one, a Mrs,
C — , as related to me.
This lady is a business woman of Omaha, is pos-
sessed of considerable means, and moves in high so-
ciety. They had journeyed to the neighboring town
for the purpose of seeing the new mediums of whom
they had heard, and they went into the presence of
these mediums absolute strangers.
The lady medium took this lady into a small room
where absolute darkness reigned, and had a sitting
with her under test conditions ; that is, the lady placed
her toes on the medium's toes, her knees against the
medium's knees, and she thought that she held the
medium's hands ; thus making it impossible for the
medium to move without her discovering it
I should have said that the room was lightc<' iiniil
she and the medium took their positioi
her friends turned out the lights and ^
joining room where they faithfully (
dium's husband.
Now these ladies liad heard of tiii
formed, and were consequently' ■"■'! ^^
they watched all so closely, th.
no possibility of trickery.
Soon after the lights vet-
passed into a trance state, a
held her. Soon the sitter fcU
S6 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
face as if an invisible hand had passed in front of it ;
and then she heard raps on her chair, on an adjoining
piece of furniture, and in fact all around her. Next,
something touched her on the head and person lightly,
and almost frightened her to death. Meanwhile the
medium was talking and describing, for the sitter's
identification, certain spirits that were present.
Among the things that occurred, there floated into
the lap of the sitter a letter C. It was softly luminous,
and the medium stated that this was the first letter of
the lady's name, which was correct. Numerous soft,
hazy lights floated about her; and a tin trumpet that
stood close by floated into the air, passing over the
sitter's head and giving it a bump, after which voices
issued from the tnimpet.
One of the most astonishing things the medium did,
was to inform the lady of an important secret in her
past life, of which no one in this city knew. It was
one of those family secrets, such as are in many fam-
ilies, and it was deeply buried from the public gaze.
She said she had not thought of this secret for a long
time, and that this medium gave it to her in the most
marvelous fashion. As I suggested that the medium
possibly led her to make remarks from which she di-
vined the knowledge of this secret, she was very cer-
tain that the medium had done nothing of the kind.
One of the ladies, a writer for a daily paper here —
had become greatly frightened during her sitting, and
had felt herself leaving her own body ; and she could
see her body standing by her, and she became so
frightened that she discontinued the seance.
I laughed at these stories, and told them of some of
the tricks of mediums ; and even showed them a screen
covered with luminous paint, which shines beautifully
HALF HOURS WITH MKDILMS.
57
in the dark. They then confessed that the lights wliich
• the medium produced, might have been a trick; and
when I told the first lady of the artificial hands some-
times used, she was not so positive as to whether slic
had held the medium's hands or whether the mc<Iinni
had held hers. She, however, was certain that one of
them held her hands on top of the others, and that
there was no artificial han<l used as the temperature
was that of a living person. I explained that this
might even be the case, if the hand had been concealed
for some time in the lady's clothing. She then con-
fessed that she had noticed a button in the front of
the medium's dress, which was unbuttoned when the
lights were turned up: and that the medium quickly
closed it.
She insisted that the inexplicable part of it all was
how the medium had discovered her secret. She said,
"It must be spirits, or else it is mind-reading." I
said, "I will show you something, myself, if you will
step into an adjoining room." I handed her a sheet
of paper with six lines drawn across it, and re(|iii?sted
her to write a. name in eacli space ;
living persons but one. which
a dead person. As soon as sh6 d(l
apart, as described elsewhere in tlnb
them into billets.
When she placed tin
them under the tabic, ^
the table one at a tiim-
the one on which wa-
I told her this was l1'
for her without lookti
I also had her writ
diseases, among whii'
b.^Btnd
58 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
death and the disease of which she died. I then told
her the correct ones, where and of which, her friend
died, this trick being the same as performed by the
great medium Schlossenger.
This seemed to dumbfound her; and then I gave
her a couple of slates to examine, and proceeded to
perform one of several slate tricks with which I am
familiar. When she found a message on these slates
which had not left her sight at all, and after examining
them thoroughly, she concluded that she was not ca-
pable of discerning between trickery and genuine phe-
nomena. However, she and her friends insisted that
I see this medium when she should later come to
Omaha, and still seemed so greatly impressed with
her that I readily promised.
A short time after this evening, I received a tele-
phone call from this lady, announcing that this medium
and her husband were in town and were not yet lo-
cated. I accordingly extended them the hospitality
of my home over Sunday, and invited the aforesaid
ladies with some ethers to call that evening.
^^ ^^ ^^
The mediums arrived at my home in due time, and
in looking over my paintings and pictures, ran across
a couple of photographs of myself performing a de-
capitation act. This was their first inkling that I was
a perfonncr. Next, they happened to mention the name
of a certain dealer in tricks for mediums, but they did
not speak of him in this capacity, but in the capacity
of a medium instead. I did not know that this gentle-
man ever traveled as a medium himself, and so stated ;
but they insisted that he had. Whether they be right
or not as to this, I do not know; but I showed my
knowledge of him, and the address of his firm, where-
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 59
Upon the gentleman asked me if I had seen his cata-
logue. I repHed that I had it and that I was a performer
of many tricks and could give him some valuable in-
struction if he desired. This piit him entirely at his
ease and he seemed to regard me as a member of the
profession : and from this time on he talked openly
of the work, the various tricks, and the tricks of the
many mediums over the country whom he knew quite
well. He spoke of the "Camp" in Indiana and of the
mediums he had met there, and told many amusing
anecdotes.
We pnt in the afternoon instructing each other, and
he showed me a neat billet and slate test that he and
his wife used, and also described his materializing
work in a laughable manner. He seemed to have a
thorough knowledge of the methods by which two of
Chicago's most celebrated mediums produce their spirit
paintings, etc., etc. He however all along insisted
that although he had this knowledge of trickery,
(which he could not well avoid, traveling around in
this business as he did), that his wife waa a genuine
medium. He openly acknowledged his materializing
was a smooth trick, but said that to make a living i
this business, certain tricks were a nccessity^^
sisted on the marvelous powers of his wif(
and it was evident that they intended to t
me and leave me in the dark on thie part
tion.
As soon as it was dark I rej' «I I
and took a seat with the lady,
her lap for me to place my pa^
place the two palms closely
thumbs to contact each other
now said, "Mr. Abbott, I wfll
6o HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
in this manner/' As she said this she placed a palm
on each of my hands, and then she said, "If I should
lift either hand you could tell it, could you not?" She
illustrated this by alternately lifting either hand. I
was sure I could tell if either were removed, and I
informed her to that effect.
The lights were now put out and I took my position
with the medium's knees between mine, and my palms
on the slate. She again placed her palms on the backs
of my hands and asked me if I could tell if she re-
moved either one. She illustrated this again by lift-
ing either palm and replacing it. This she did two or
three times. I noted this and remembered it. She
now replaced her palms, and I was quite sure that she
did not use an artificial hand; for I felt the fingers
move on the backs of each of my hands in so lifelike
a manner as to disprove the idea that either hand was
artificial.
She now went into her trance, and first felt the in-
fluence of a lady whom she described very accurately.
The description fitted my mother very well, and did
not fit any other relative that I know who might be
dead. However, as my mother is alive, I said nothing
and thus did not lead her on. I must confess that my
natural impulse was to reply to her statements, which
she gave me zcith such a rising inflection, as to be
really asking me a question ; although the mere words
indicated a positive statement on her part instead of
a question. I was familiar with this manner of **fish-
ing*' and of course I did not respond. I have since
learned from mv wife that the ladv saw mv mother's
picture during the afternoon, but she was given no
information about her.
She soon dropped this spirit and brought up that of
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS, 6l
a little child; then she introduced a second child, and
said that she took them to be niy own. There was
another rising inflection in this statement, and this
time r decided to break my silence, but to remember
what I should say. I therefore informed her that I
had never had any children. She immediately said,
"Then it is a brother ;" and I said, "Yes." This
statement was pretty safe on her part, for there are
few families in which there is not a dead brother.
Had I not been versed in trickery I can readily see
how much information I would have given her, for I
had to continually guard my own tongue ; as her ques-
tions, or more correctly her stafcmcitts with a rising
mfiection. were worded so adroitly and came so rap-
idly. While this was going on I felt some light touches
on my person, face, head, etc. ; and not expecting
Ihem, I started suddenly when I felt them. The
touches were very short in duration, what a musician
would call "staccato," They were also very light.
Soon raps appeared on an adjoining bed, and she
proceeded to ask the spirits the questions about me,
and the raps replied.
The questions were so worded that I coql
that it was intended that 1 should answcf^
In fact, it is natural to reply to statement^
a rising inflection, and the uninitiated
done so.
Sometimes I decided to hum-'
reply. When such was tlic ca^'
would answer so quickly, wit!
as to appear to be simulta::!
I saw plainly that they folKiv,
so verj' quickly that to the \w •
appeared to be simultancou-
62 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
one's own answers. This effect is due to the way the
answers attract the attention so strongly, coming in
such a mysterious manner, that I was tempted to for-
get I had answered the questions. I am sure persons
in general would have forgotten this fact, for they
would have been so much more impressed with the
performance and startled, that they would have been
laboring imder strong excitement : whereas I was per-
fectly cool, knowing it was a trick. There is much
difference in the effect when one knows such a thing
is a trick, and does not think some supernatural agency
is at work.
Meanwhile I saw a soft luminous light floating
about, and voices came through the trumpet which
bumped about the room. Raps came on my chair and
during all this time she ne^-er ceased to "pump" far
information.
Now at first I was a trifle startled, for I felt that she
ha<l not removed either hand ; but my common sense
soon told me that she had. and that her left hand, which
was a large one, rested one-half on each of tny hands;
that at the last moment, before starting the tests, she
had placed her hand in this position, keepinjr her right
hand free. She had apparently raised a paim from the
back of each hand, by merely tilling up, the side of her
left han<I wliich touched one of my hands allowing the
other si<lc of it to remain in contact with my othi
hand, and remarking, "You can feel when 1 take this
one away, can you?" She then tilted up the oilier
side making the same remark.
I knew that she was touching me. and makin
raps with her free hand ; and that she did the tt
in the trumpet ; and also that the lights were a
of gauzy silk dyed with a preparation containing
the
her I
this J
M
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
63
matn's Luminous Paint." I was surprised at the illu-
sion to the sense of touch, for it felt precisely as if
both her hands rested on mine. If any of my ruaflcm
will try this on any of their friends in the dark and nut
explain the secret to them, they will find the ilUitti'Mt
is perfect. It onlj requires boldness. There in no
one, to whom this is unknown, who can tell in tin-
dark that two hands do not rest on the liackn oi hi*
hands. The subject must of course platt- thi- twi
palms very closely together, allowinf; his llmtnlni I'l
contact each other their entire length.
Having failed to give me any information of a start-
ling nature, owing to her inability to exciu- ni<' and
cause me to unconsciously lead her on, she now lold
me to ask for any one I desired and she would m-t if
they would come. I askc<l for William J — . a friend
who had died recently. She said, "He is here hut I
can not see his face plainly. It seems that he lussitl
out suddenly. It seems as if an accident had liap-
pencd?" This was given with a rising inflection. As
I made no rq>ly she remarked. "Anyway, he i)asscd
out suddenly."
My friend had died of typlioitl fever, aftt-r a week
or ten days of gBf|kM|Serint;. It is true tliat the dis-
ease struck hudJ^Hrreat vitilenct.' in a smlilen man-
ner, but I did nril^Krxdled an. I iry tn a|.|ilv lur r,-
mark to the fati* ^ ihc case
She next ronartl^ "He un^ 11..1 a mu^ieiiui," I i|n
ited Ihis fiiiKirk, iii)l,-s ii 1„. il.al
■lat I am a iimsieiaii. an.l ].l■L^
-.iie made llii- r.mark in a man-
64 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
ing both comet and piano well. Among my treasures
is a phonograph record of a comet and clarinet duet
which we played together at one time. I however said
nothing of this that would help her out : but I then
fully realized how natural it would have been for the
average investigator to have given her pointers enough
to prevent her making this error.
She next said, "Yes, he passed out suddenly, and
seems to regret something, as if he left it undone, or
unsettled." I made no reply, and she said, "As if he
had left something impaid, you undersand?" I de-
termined to humor her and I said, "Something which
he owed me?" I said this as if she had struck a re-
sponsive chord, and she said, "Yes, that is it: It was
what he owed you. He says this is his one regret."
Now, I will state that I do not believe my friend
ever owed any debts; and I am sure that he never
owed anything to me, and that he left nothing unpaid.
Tie was a very honorable and upright young man.
I next asked for a young lady, Georgia C — . She
seemed to think this was a gentleman ; and she spoke
of her in the masculine gender and proceeded to call
"him" up and remarked on the suddenness of "his"
demise. I did not respond and she dropped this spirit.
I may mention that the young lady also died of typhoid
fever after a long illness.
She next said, "I can see an accident as of a wreck.
I see it affects vou in some wav, and I think others
also. It either has happened or is to happen." I made
no response and she said, "Were you ever in a wreck ?"
and as I was slow in replying, she added, "Or anything
of the kind ?"
I replied, "Yes, I was in something of the kind."
In fact I had been in two serious accidents with horses.
HALF HOURS WITH UEDIUHS.
At one time while riding a. bicycle, I was struck by a
runaway horse which ran directly over me ; and there
is yet a slight injury on my breast from it. At another
time I was thown from a buggy in a runaway, and was
totally unconscious for half an hour; and then after
the return of my reason, was totally without memory
for a period of one and one-half hours. I could reason
on my condition, but by no effort could I recall my
name, or by searching my mind find the least glimpse
of memory. My reason was perfectly clear, and I
plainly recollect my striving to remember who and
where I was. I remember that my first thought on
the return of reason was the bearing this experience
had on the possibility of a future life, after the death
of the body. This incident is of great interest to me
yet, but is out of place here, so I will not disgress
further.
I have had other accidents, so I could not tell to
which one she referred ; but I acknowledged an acci-
dent resembling a wreck. She said, "You had a nar-
row escape?" I replied, "Yes." She then said, "You
still have a scar or something on your person as a
memento of this?" I replied that I did; however, there
is no scar, but there is a sllj^ht enlargement i
where the hoof struck nw. I could easily/
a few words, and she would have given me
but I only gave her as many pointers as 1
scribe. She said, "I believe this was with hi
way," and I replied, "Yes it was." Howi^
have inferred this from the surprise i" '
I repeated after her the words, ".\
rising inflection when she first men':
All persons have had acciik-nts, ai
medium to start the subject and
66 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
sitter the details, after which the usual sitter will think
the medium gave the details herself.
I saw how effective her system of "pumping" was ;
and I saw how most persons would have received
much better results than I did, by talking more and by
making ung^iarded exclamations. Systems of "pump-
ing" or "fishing" are an art with mediums, and they
g^ow very expert at it. and do it so naturally that it
takes an expert to detect that he himself is giving the
medium the information.
Most persons would have regarded this information
as most wonderful and would have' quickly forgotten
the little failures she made. In fact, with most, she
would not have carried her failures so far; for they
would most naturally have stopped her when wrong,
instead of allowing her to mislead herself as I did.
How many of my readers have ever blindfolded
themselves and tned to find a hidden article by touch-
ing the tips of the fingers of a person who intently
thinks of the article and its hiding-place? Those who
have done this will remember the swaying motions of
the body in the different directions in the endeavor
to find the direction by first discovering the "line of
least resistance" ; how the subjects resist when the
operator is wrong; and while they do not lead one,
how they quickly encourage him by not resisting whet^
he starts right. This same principle applies to the
art of "fishing." The medium mentions many things
on many subjects, and the sitter resists or overlooks
the ones on the "wrong track" ; and while not intend-
ing to lead the medium, shows by encouragement when
the medium is on the *'right track/'
After the seance I did not at first tell the medium
I had discovered her trick, but I did tell her that I
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 67
knew how her lights were produced, and this she did
not deny. I merely said, "I am puzzled as to how you
handled these lights, Mrs. C. tells me that you floated
a luminous letter C into her lap, telling her this was
the initial of her name." The medium rephed, "Did
she say that?" I replied that she did. The medium
then said, "That shows what a person's imagination
will do. I had no luminous letters. I merely moved
the luminous cloth so as to describe a letter C, after
discovering her name."
She said that when she gave tests to any one, the
stories they told afterwards continually grew, and al-
ways grew to her advantage. That they grew so that
when they came back to her, she could hardly rec-
ognize her own work. She said, "It is a fact that be-
lievers are so anxious for tests, that they always help
one out ; and they invariably help out, if they be be-
lievers, in the way that the medium desires they should."
I afterwards sat with Mrs. C — and repeated the
tests the medium gave her ; and she did not discover
how I did it, and admitted that I did it just as well
and successfully as the medium did. I did not tell her
that I had but one hand on her two hands. 1 have
prepared some luminous hands, faces, and forms on
silk, which I use in such cases; and i^nil the cITict
of these dark seance tricks is on thc^^BjBK just as
impressive as are the more difficult d^^^HBh '
form in the light.
T may mention that Mrs. C — had Ca
medium again on the same eveinr
she insisted to me afterwards
her, one on each side of her j
This shows the average persn
describing little details. I a.-!
68 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
not first touched on one side, and then quickly after-
wards on the other ; and she admitted that such might
have been the case. I will say that when my wife had
a sitting with this medium, there was a very dim light
in an adjoining hall ; and as my wife faced a transom
she could dimly see the medium manipulating her free
arm. The medium was unaware of the slight light
shining through the transom and of the fact that she
was between my wife and the light.
At a later date when better acquainted with this
medium, she explained to me the means by which she
had obtained the profound secret which she gave to
Mrs. C — . Mrs. C — 's most intimate friend accom-
panied her to the first meeting with this medium and
had the first sitting. To her own friends, this lady
pretended to be an ardent believer. In fact she was
a skeptic, but was very anxious to become a medium
herself. She accordingly courted the favor of this me-
dium by revealing to her this secret, in the hope of re-
ceiving some instruction in the coveted art in return
for her kindness.
I am acquainted with a gentleman who in describing
a slate performance which Slade gave him, solemnly
tells me that he purchased and took his own slate with
him, and that it never left his own hands or the light.
Further he states most positively that he saw the mes-
sage in the process of appearing on the slate letter by
letter. This man is a traveling salesman for a large
firm, a good business man, and honest. Now neither
Slade nor any other person ever gave such a perform-
ance ; and among all the magicians who saw Slade, no
one ever witnessed such a trick.
Truly, not much reliance can be put in miraculous
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUM
tales related second-hand of such performances. One
can only test such thin^ by seeing the details oneself.
There is a test that is quite convincing which can be
given at the close when working the trick which this
lady medium worked. It consists in passing upon the
sitter's arm a solid, previously examined steel ring,
without removing the palms from the back of the sub-
ject's hands.
. When I perform this. I allow the steel ring to be
examined before the lights are put out. It is eight
inches in diameter and is made of quarter-inch wire,
nickel -plated.
I then place this ring on the top of my head when
I take my seat. Now, after placing my left palm on
the sitter's two hands and going through the subse-
quent maneuvers with trumpets, luminous hands, faces,
raps, etc., I quietly reach up on my head and take the
ring on my right arm.
I then place my right palm on the back of my left
hand and allow the third and fourth fingers of my right
hand to rest on the back of the subject's left hand.
This seems to him as if I have merely moved two of
the fingers of my right band, which he thinks is rest-
ing on his left. I next prtss tightly on t
and state to the subject that T will nD\if,tn
each of his hands withnut removing i
them and for him to note this fact. I p
the third and fourth fingers of oarh T
release this pressure; but witl.
hand. I quickly reach nmlcr
grasp his hands. This I Ium
removal from his touch, f n
call for lights. As I do tin
70 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
arm settles down upon his left arm; and when the
lights are on he finds it there, and thinks it was passed
upon his arm by some super-human power, never
dreaming that it was first on my own arm. This is a
very effective test.
X.
At one time I knew a materializing medium who was
one of the best in the country. He did not use con-
federates and have them enter through a trap, as is
often done by some of the best mediums who material-
ize in their own homes in the larger cities.
I may mention that this latter class very often have
the trap in the base board behind the cabinet, as ex-
plained elsewhere in this work. Sometimes the trap
is in the ceiling and is masked by a heavy border in
the paper on the ceiling. In such cases the cabinet
curtains extend to the ceiling; and when the singing
commences, this trap is opened from the room above
and a padded ladder let down into the cabinet. The
various "spirits'' descend and perform their parts,
then return up the ladder, and withdrawing it, close
the trap. During this time the medium guards the
cabinet; and a few faithful confederates in the front
row of spectators see to it that no accidents happen.
This is one of the best traps ; for the cabinet and walls
can be inspected thoroughly, before and after the per-
formance. No one ever suspects the ceiling, which is
inaccessible to inspection. A trap through the floor
is sometimes used, but this is not so good an idea.
The medium to whom I just referred uses none of
these traps, neither does he submit himself to any of
the various "rope ties" which are so numerous. He says
that doing so only creates suspicion. He trusts entirely
HALF HOURS WITH MEX»IUMS. 7I
to the loyalty of a few confederates and ardent be-
lievers, who are seated in the front row and who see
to it that "conditions" are not disturbed.
Strangers and skeptics are seated well back. He uses
many elegant costumes, all made of the finest silk ; and
they can all be contained in a very small space. He
has one piece consisting of twenty-one yards of the
finest white French bridal veiling, which can be con-
tained in a pint cup. It is two yards wide and very
gauzy. Such material can only be obtained in the very
largest cities and is difficult to find even there.
This is prepared as follows : The fabric is first washed
carefully through seven waters, and while damp worked
thoroughly and rapidly through the solution given be-
low. It is then tacked on a large wall space and left
there to dry for three days. After this it is washed
with naphtha soap until all odor leaves it and until
the fabric is perfectly soft and pliable. Only silk will
retain the paint through this washing.
The solution for dyeing is made as follows : One jar
of "Balmain's Luminous Paint/' one-half pint Demar
varnish, one pint odorless benzine, fifty drops of lav-
ender oil. All must be mixed together, kept thin, and
the work done very rapidly.
This fabric will, after being exposed to the )
shine for a long time in the dark and appear as
luminous vapor. He uses this piece for the ha
reaches to the floor, when he impersonates
and other queens.
The silk for his skirt and waist, is ordi
silk. It is prepared with a most elaborate ai
ful design of vines, leaves, roses, and so for
on it with the undiluted "Balmain" paint
pears many times more brilliant than the i
72 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
crown, beads, and jewels are also painted with the
pure paint. They are very brilliant. All parts not
painted are in perfect darkness. His face can not be
seen except when he wears a beautiful mask dimly
illuminated, or when he places a piece of the luminous
gauze over it, allowing the gauze to shape to, and cling
to his features.
It was a beautiful sight in the darkness, to see him
in this gorgeous appearing costume, while with his
finely modulated voice he impersonated the voice of
the Egyptian queen in a "spirit whisper" and in her
native tongue.
When made up as an old Indian chief, his costume
was fantastic to the degree of barbarism. His head-
dress, feathers, etc., were painted with the pure paint,
and he wore a dimly illuminated Indian face. It looked
grotesque to see him in the darkness "doing" a war-
dance for ardent believers, while in his deep voice he
chanted in the old chief's native tongue. He was a
splendid actor and could modulate his voice from the
deepest basso to the fine voice of the best female im-
personators.
When he was materializing as Queen "Oriana" I
could first notice a small, vapory light near the floor,
which gradually grew to the size of a human form.
Then a few feet from it another appeared gradually.
These waved about as vapory, willowy ghosts. They
were the gauze fabric which he had gradually uncovered
to our view. Thf n, gradually, his form began appear-
ing between these, and near the floor; and it grew
gradually, to full size, while the crown and jewels
shone with a weird brilliancy that almost lighted the
room dimly. The two gauzy forms now appeared
as the shining hair of the queen reaching to the floor.
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
73
.When he impersonated a child he seemed to be able
to contract his size and shrink down so as to appear as
a little child. He could imitate a child's voice to per-
fection.
He recounted many amusing incidents of his mate-
rializations, when talking to me, whom he knew to be
in the possession of his secret. He said it was laugh-
able sometimes when he was called upon by some of
the class of believers who have "soul-mates," and who
desire them to be materialized.
Doubtless some of my readers have heard of some
such persons who have studied "occult science" and
whose "soul-mates" reside on Mars, Jupiter, or some
other planet. I used to think that these people knew
better ; but I have met so many of them, that I have
about concluded that they are deluded and actually
believe in these "soul-mates," Sometimes these persons
have considerable means, and pay the medium a goodly
sum to materialize a particular "soul-mate" for them.
One instance which he related to me was of a lady
with considerable means whose "soul-mate" was an
ancient king. She gave this medium fifty dollars for
a materialization in private. The medium sat in his
cabinet while his wife sat with the believer in total
darkness. At the proper time the i
peared in the gorgeous costume of J
The lady began weeping, and with I
she cried, "Oh, King ! King ! you X\
He replied in the lowest and r
beautiful voice, "Do not weep,
member how happy you will '"
by my side on my throne, cii
amusing to hear him recoui'
74 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
the correct imitation of the lady's tearful voice, fol-
lowed by his own deep melodious tones.
He told me that it was in such cases as this that he
frequently made his "best money." He was wearing
a beautiful solitaire diamond ring on his little finger.
He asked if I would like to heat its history. I said that
I would and he gave me the following story.
A certain judge of the Supreme Court of an Eastern
state, had a fiancee who was killed in a railroad wreck.
This sad accident had occurred just after the judge
had purchased this ring for her, and before he had an
opportunity of presenting it. This judge was nearly
distracted over his loss and visited various spirit me-
diums. A certain one, a very prominent lady minister
of a noted spiritualist church in that state, learned of
all this, but was unable to secure the ring from the
judge.
She met this medium and in his own language gave
him "the dope for this judge." She told him the judge
still had the ring and as she could not "work him" for
it, she would turn him over to the tender mercies of
this medium.
When the judge came one afternoon for a reading
this medium called from the "other side" the judge's
sweetheart. During the conversation the "spirit" adroitly
brought up the subject of this ring; and then said that
if the judge would return that evening, she would
appear to him, and that he could present this ring to
her. She said that she would dematerialize it and
take its "astral" form with her into the "realms of
spirit."
The medium then worked very hard securing proper
make-up material for the evening. At the proper time
the "spirit" of the lady appeared dressed in a most
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 75
goi^ous bridal costume of the greatest beauty. Her
face was in daikness and she spoke only in whispers.
She held the most beautiful lilies-of-the-valley in her
hands, and her costume was covered with orange blos-
soms. Some of the flowers were luminous. The sight
was so beautiful that the judge was deeply affected and
shed tears. The "spirit" walked towards him and held
out her little finger, on which the judge slipped the
diamond, which the medium now wears,
I asked this medium if he had ever seen a medium
who could perform any trick which he could not
fathom. He said that he had, and related to me that
a certain medium, a lady now in the West somewhere,
had a secret for materializations that was very fine.
Her husband had been a chemist ; and she possessed
some kind of a capsule that she could moisten in her
mouth and roll towards the spectators in the darkness,
when it would rise into a luminous vapor the size of
a human form and move about. There was no odor
and nothing could be seen if the lights were raised ; but
on turning them out, it again appeared. He said none
of the mediums could get the secret of this trick. The
medium at one time offered to sell some of the cap-
■ sules at one dollar each. One medium bought twenty-
five of them: but when she trit'il to use iluiii liu'v
would not work ; and .she aim
guish to tJiink that she. '
should herself be dupetl.
This medium showed i
half-dozen books of "i]n\
in various cities he inten'
the information which ii
but most frequently hnr
in these places.
76 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
XI
At one time an acquaintance told me of a wonderful
experience that he had with a certain medium. He had
called at the hotel where the medium was stopping,
and asked for a private reading. The medium, a very
dignified gentleman, received him, and proceeded to
give him a very interesting verbal reading. He told
my acquaintance of many occurrences in his past life,
of things that were worrying him, etc. Finally he
brought out a number of slates and gave them to the
sitter with the request that he select two of them and
lay the remainder on the bed. The sitter also cleaned
and thoroughly examined the slates, and under the di-
rection of the medium held them on his own head.
The medium merely touched the edges of the frames
of the slates with the tips of his fingers, which the
sitter particularly noticed contained absolutely nothing.
In a few moments the sitter took the slates from his
head, and separating them, found on the inside of one
a lengthy message addressed to him by name, and signed
by the name of his dead mother. The message was
devoted to subjects which were at that time affecting
the sitter's life, and which the medium could not pre-
viously have known as the sitter was a stranger to the
medium.
This acquaintance of mine regarded this perform-
ance as entirely beyond the possibilities of trickery,
and as positive proof of communion with the soul of
his departed mother.
There was another told me of the same medium,
and he stated to me that he had bought two slates and
took them with him to the medium's parlors. That
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. yy
these slates positively never left his hands, and yet he
received a similar message.
Yet another told me of his marvelous experience
with this same medium. When he entered the medium's
parlor, he took his seat at a kind of large table or desk,
and wrote on a slip of paper the question he wanted
answered, and folded the same and placed it within
his own pocket. As he did this the medium was en-
gaged with a book at the opposite side of a large room.
When he had finished, the medium began to give him a
reading verbally. Finally he had the sitter select two
slates and hold them on his own head ; and in a few.
moments he received a message on the inside of one
of the slates answering the question he had written,
and giving additional information, and this was ad-
dressed to his name. This sitter paid five dollars for
this reading.
Now, fortunately, I was personally acquainted with
this marvelous medium and knew the exact means he
employed in these tricks. The principle in each of the
slate tests was the same. Had the spectator been a
close observer he would have noticed that a larj^fc fold-
ing bed stood across the corner of the room, also that
one side of the head of this bed did not reach the wall
bv two feet. Had he looked behind this bed he would
have seen an assistant seated on a chair in his stocking
feet, with a table, several slates, and some crayon pen-
cils. He would also have noticed that the room was
heavily carpeted.
During the time that the medium was giving
first sitter the verbal reading, the concealed assis
was writing the message on subjects which the me
adroitly hit upon in his conversation, and wh»
cunningly caused the sitter to admit and discui
78 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
him. Naturally the sitter said many things which he
forgot immediately; and the operator being very ex-
pert in this mental work, even secured his name in the
conversation, by properly exciting the sitter in a certain
description of an important event then in the process
of occurring in his life. Of course the assistant, hear-
ing all this information, was able to elaborate a mes-
sage in which all this information was used to very
telling advantage.
In his conversation, the operator, at the proper time,
spoke certain words, which were a secret cue to the
assistant to close the message and be ready.
Now when the sitter selected and cleaned the two
slates and placed them together, the operator had him
take a seat in a large, strong chair with the back
towards the head of the folding bed. The operator
now asked to touch the slate edges, during the trial
for a message, with the tips of his fingers. When he
did so, however, he really first grasped the edges of
the ends of the slates holding them together; and he
told the sitter to let loose and bring his palms up under
and beyond these slates, and to place his two palms
against the surface of the slate which was nearest the
medium.
The medium, it must be understood, was directly in
front of the sitter with his arms extending forward
towards the sitter, and his fingers grasping the ends
of the slates by their frames. The sitter's arms were
extended towards the medium, passing under the lower
edge of the slates which were held edgewise in a ver--
tical position, and his palms were pressed against the
surface of the slate next to the medium. The sitter's
palms thus faced himself, and the slates were held
vertically in a position between his palms and his own
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 79
face. They were supported at the ends by pressure
from the medium's fingers on their edges. It is very
important that the reader form a good mental picture
of this, if he desires to understand the trick thoroughly.
Now while the sitter was releasing his hold on the
slates and changing the position of his hands, the
operator deftly slipped the slate that was next to the
sitter up about one-half inch higher than the slate
which the sitter's palms touched.
The operator now held the slates without grasping
the edges, by merely pressing on the edges with his
fingers, or squeezing his fingers against the edges of
the slates. He now moved the slates upwards until
above the sitter's head, then backwards until the edge
of the forward slate rested on the sitter's head. The
sitter's hands followed the slates with his palms re-
maining in contact with the front slate. Tlie sitter
naturally supposed that the slates both rested on his
head ; but really his head, and his hands also, only
touched the forward slate.
The medium now began a very interesting talk to
the sitter ; and as his assistant quietly slipped out from
behind the bed with the prepared slate, the medium's
conversation became very animated and almost violent.
He also applied most of the pressure of his fingres to
the forward slate: and relaxing the pre
upper side of the edge of the rear slatt,-^
to tilt back an inch at the top. The as3il|
of it from behind the sitter. lifted it oin ■«
the prepared slate in its place, in
behind the bed with the discarflcl •;
now grew more calm ; and briri'
from the head of the sitter i
placed his own palms on thm
8o HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
asked the sitter to examine them for a message. When
the sitter remarked that he did not believe the writing
was his mother's, the medium stated that his guide did
the writing at the dictation of the sitter's mother.
In the second case I described, wherein the sitter
purchased and brought his own slates with him, the
same tactics were followed except that the assistant
could not prepare the message in advance of the writ-
ing experiment. He, of course, gathered the informa-
tion and had a rather short message mentally prepared.
It took considerably more time to perform the trick,
but the operator made it so interesting for the sitter
that this was not noticed. The assistant had to slip
out at the proper time, take the rear slate, retire and
write the message, bring it back and replace it, and
then again retire.
The sitter was positive that his own slates never left
his touch : but the fact was that the rear one on his
head did, and he overlooked the fact that he was for a
time merely touching one slate. Of course he never
dreamed of a third person in the room.
In the last case I described, the only additional thing
was the means by which the assistant secured a copy
of the question which the sitter wrote and concealed.
This large desk or table the medium carried with him.
One leg was hollow, and it stood over a hole in the
floor. As the table was very heavy, no one ever moved
it. The top was prepared by first covering it with a
very thin piece of white silk, placing a carbon sheet on
this ; and then some thin, slick, black cloth was placed
over all and this cloth was tacked in place.
Paper and pencils lay on the table. The medium
directed the sitter to go to the table and write his ques-
tion and sign his own name to it. As soon as he did
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 8l
SO, the medium told him to place it in his pocket, and
then called him to the center of the room and b^an the
reading. Now a strong cord which ran under the floor
from the assistant, and passed up the hollow leg of the
table, was securely attached to the comer of the white
silk on the table tmder the carbon sheet. Of course,
at the proper time, the assistant drew in this piece of
silk and read the carbon impression of the question the
sitter had written. In this trick the sheet of carbon
should be slightly larger than the silk and should be
tacked to the table on the side opposite the hollow leg.
* * *
Another medium performed this slate trick in a
slightly different but very effective manner. He usu-
ally did it as I shall now describe, when the sitter came
with his own slates.
He gave the sitter a slip of paper on which to write
his question and requested him after writing to retain
it in his pocket. He next gave the sitter a large rubber
band to fasten the two slates together. When this was
done, he took the slates in the tips of the fingers of his
right hand, and placed them on the sitter's left shoul-
der just back of his range of vision ; while with his
left hand he grasped the sitter's two hands and looked
into his eyes. He now gave the sitter an interesting
verbal reading, after which he broup^ht the slates into
view and gave them to the sitter to unfasten and ex-
amine. When this was done, the sitter, <^reatly to his
own mystification, found on the slates a lengthy mes-
sage covering the two sides of the slates that were
together, answering the question, and signed by the
spirit to whom it had been addressed.
The secret was very simple. The slip of paper which
the medium handed to the sitter had been previously
82 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
rubbed on both sides with white spennaceti wax.
This was done while the paper rested on a smooth
surface. Some pressure was applied, and the paper
well rubbed, until it was coated with the wax. This
could not be detected by one inexperienced. The me-
dium saw to it that the sitter placed this slip on his
(the sitter's) own slate while writing. This left the
question transferred to the slate with a slight coat of
wax. This was hardly noticeable. Now the rubber
band was put around the slates, and the medium placed
them in the position described above. While he enter-
tained the sitter properly with the verbal reading, his
confederate slipped out and took the slates, leaving
two others in their stead which the medium now al-
lowed to rest on the sitter's shoulder.
The confederate took the slates behind the bed,
opened them, dusted common talcum, or toilet powder
on the slates, shook it around, and as the powder ad-
hered to the wax, he read the question and name. He
now cleaned the slates, wrote the message with soft
crayon, closed the slates, slipped out behind the sitter
and made the second exchange. A good powder to use
in this experiment is dry white lead.
XII.
I will describe in this number a very novel seance
which I attended recently. It was a dark seance ; but
the most unusual part was that the work was really
billet work, and it was performed in the most complete
darkness.
This trick is but little known at present and the
effect is simply beyond description. We called at the
medium's pariors, and were each given a small white
card and an envelope. We were instructed to write
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 83
on the cards the questions we desired answered, to ad-
dress them to our spirit friends, and to sign our own
names, as is usual in such cases. We were also ad-
vised to let no one know what we had written, and to
seal the cards in the envelopes. Wax was furnished,
so that those who desired could seal their envelopes
in this manner as an extra precaution. A number of
the guests took advantage of this offer.
As soon as the questions were sealed, the medium
entered the room and the lights were put out. The
most complete darkness reigned. We sat around the
room holding each other's hands, and the medium felt
her way around in the darkness and collected our
sealed missives in her hand.
She next took her seat opposite us in the room, and
gave each person the most marvelous test. She did
not read the questions word for word, which would
have detracted from the effect, but gave the tests after
this manner: "I feel the influence of cold, chilly water,
and I hear the splashing of the waves of the sea. I
see a great storm raging, and I get the influence of
one who was a brother. He speaks the name of Harry
and says, 'Ella, do not worry about me. I am very
happy now and know neither sorrow nor pain. All is
brightness and joy over here,' Miss Smitt
brother is in the realm of bliss over there."
The question from which this test was givct
follows :
"Brother Harry: Did you suffer much
you were washed overboard and drowned?
— ElU Si
These tests were all given in the most complete
ncss; after which the medium requested that
84 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
committee come to her and receive the unopened en-
velopes in the darkness, before the lights were lighted.
This was done.
After this the room was lighted ; and each g^est se-
lected his envelope by a slight mark which each had
been requested to place on it, and received the same
unopened and unaltered from the hands of the com-
mittee.
The effect of this seance can well be imagined. The
guests did not write on any object that could receive
any impression of their writing. The medium could
not use odorless alcohol in the darkness ; and in fact no
one could read any question, even were it not sealed,
in such darkness.
The secret is a simple one. If a person take a thin,
white card and write on it, this can be sealed ; yet the
writing can be read easily in the darkness, if a small
electric pocket-flash-light be held behind the envelope.
It could not be done in a lighted room, but in the dark-
ness the writing appears very plain and legible. The
small pocket-light can be concealed in the pocket of
the medium ; and the medium also has a large hood or
sack made of rubber cloth or some cloth impervious to
light, which is long enough to cover the upper portion
of the person, including the head and hands. This
sack is secreted in the pocket of the medium. After
the envelopes are collected, the medium takes her seat
near two confederates who prevent accidents ; and in
the darkness she withdraws the sack from the pocket,
placing it secretly over the upper portion of her person.
She now takes the flash-light out of her pocket and
proceeds under cover of the sack to read the questions
and give the tests. The room being in total darkness,
HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS. 85
the subjects never know what the medium has done or
is doing, but consider that she is in a partial trance.
After the tests are given, she takes off the sack, re-
places it and the light in her pocket, and calls for the
committee to receive the envelopes before the room is
relighted.
The credit for the invention of this fine trick belongs
not to a medium, as might be supposed, but to a magi-
cian, — Mr. Henry Hardin (E. A. Parsons) of New
Haven, Conn. This gentleman is the originator of
many subtle tricks used by both mediums and magi-
cians. Many of his secrets are catalogued and sold by
the dealers ; and a number of the effects published in
Professor Hoffman's Later Magic are of his invention,
although the credit is given to certain dealers. This
can be verified by referring to the old files of the
magician's journal, Mahatma, wherein he first gave
their secrets to the world. The trick just explained
was advertised in Mahatma some years ago under the
title of "The Trance Vision."
A medium once told me that the public never know
half of the money that is gathered by the mediums.
He said that they are continually "playing i
stakes" as this is where the "big money" is seen
He also said that it is not the common peO|
are the best patrons of mediums, but doctors,
merchants, teachers, and the more intelligent
persons. He said that scientific persons make
of subjects, because they are in earnest and gi
best attention ; which fact is of the greatest import:i
for the success of any trick.
He said that really mediums do not care for
forming for spiritualists so much, as they expc^
much for their money ; and if given a fine pic
86 HALF HOURS WITH MEDIUMS.
work, they accept it as a matter of course. Mystery,
he said, has become commonplace to such people. It is
the more intelligent class, who call themselves "in-
vestigators," that are willing and able to pay "good
money" for a medium's services.
He told me that he had known many other mediums
and that the foundation of nearly all of their work is
some variation of the principles of reading a billet
written by a sitter, or some form of a slate or paper-
writing experiment.
He said that he had never met a medium or other
performer in all his experience, except an Indian ma-
gician, but who would talk openfy of his tricks the
moment he made himself known and gave the per-
former to understand that he was "posted" and that
he had no interest in exposing him.
He said that usually mediums can perform only one
or two tricks ; but that they perform these so often,
and become so very expert, that their tricks are almost
indetectable.
Indian conjurors are, as a rule, of this class, and
simply excel in just one or two tricks which they know
to perfection. Like the mediums, they claim that their
tricks are a genuine performance; and this lends the
charm of mystery to their work, which more than
doubles its effect.
MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED
WRITINGS.
I HAVE decided to give to my readers (in so far as
I am at liberty to do so) the methods I generally
use, when reading sealed writings for a company as-
sembled in double parlors.
For a long time I had intended to guard these secrets
carefully and keep them entirely for my own use, as
is done by many performers.
While magicians frequently publish or allow to be
published many valuable secrets, yet the secrets of
their very latest and best work are jealously guarded
from the public. The reason for this is because if the
secrets become too generally known, it lessens the
value of the experiments for purposes of en* ' ■-
ment, by rendering them common, Consee
from the magician's point of view, it is regj
out of place to allow such secrets to beconi
property through publication.
In some instances secrets of this class ai
certain dealers to performers, and to profes)
diums, at prices that might astonish an outsw
the secrets are regarded as exceptionally gooil
high price placed upon them by the vendor,
will buy them that the performance of the tx\i.
r
\
88 MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS.
will be very rare, and the performer can well afford
to pay the high price asked. When such sale is made,
it is generally accompanied by a request that the pur-
chaser faithfully guard the secret from the public.
The fundamental principles of these experiments are
not new, but the details make them useful for prac-
tical purposes. I purchased them from dealers who
place considerable value on them; as they are cata-
logued at prices which, for the four I am about to
describe, make an aggregate of some seventy dollars.
As received bv me from the vendors, I found some
of them impracticable until I had added certain im-
provements to the ideas. In the improved form I
assure my readers that they are thoroughly practicable,
as I have performed them some hundreds of times with
such success as would astonish one who has not seen
them. I have never yet made a failure in performing
them ; nor have I found even one person, among the
many who have witnessed their performance, who
could even remotely guess at the methods employed.
There are many methods of reading such writings,
but the ones I am about to describe are the very best of
which I have ever even heard.
Still, my readers must not expect me to
miracle. Miracles are never performed. The
ments are pure trickery ; but if properly perforHMSid^
have the appearance of being produced by some Occidt
or psychic power. However, all that is necessary, is
a few simple articles, and their proper tnanipulaiion.
When one reads the explanation of a trick before see-
ing it performed, the value of the trick is sekkmi
realized. It would be much better, were it possible to
do so, to see it performed first and then read the ex-
planation afterwards. However, as this is imposstUe ia
MKUIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS. 89
this instance, I will first give the effect, or appearance of
the experiments as I perform them, and follow this
with an explanation of the methods employed. Per-
formers who may read this, will notice that most of
the articles employed have been previously used in
such experiments; and they may not at first sight
attach the importance to these experiments which they
deserve, owing to the fact that as used heretofore such
tricks were by no means a decided success. The ideas
have gradually been improved upon, and the perfected
tricks are the result of a process of evolution. A few
little improvements will frequently make a poor trick
one of the best and most difficult of detection.
Each of the four is performed on a different prin-
ciple, and is fine when performed singly. They should
first be practiced in this manner; but as I produce
them, I work them as one experiment, or rather as a
combination trick. I have performed two of them
singly from the stage with the greatest success; but
woriced in combination, I generally give them in a
double parlor. Here the effect is so great, especially
on the more intelligent class of persons, (owing to the
fact of all being done undi^ *^^t^ ver>' eyes of the spec-
tators,) that I prefer t' ind T shall describe
the experiments as Ij in my double par-
lors. J
I would suggest j| yho desire to easily
grasp the explan^jjjH ly close attention to
the following des<^H s given with a view
to making the t>:rW elHgible. l^aeli little
detail should be : jt all is for a ]nir])()se.
and must be jus
I have the au the front parlor, and
facing the back ens into other a]:>art-
go MEDIUM ISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS.
ments, through a folding door. I have a writing desk
in the rear parlor in which there is a drawer containing
the articles I use ; and to which I frequently go to get
new articles, sometimes getting rid of others at the
same time. There is also in the center of this back
parlor an ordinary table, on which I place a porcelain
skull open at the top.
'^Briefly stated, when I perform this combination ex-
periment, I first prepare the three sealed writings that
I am to read ; and I then proceed to read first the one
prepared last. I next read the one prepared first ; and
then, after a slight wait, g^ve a slate writing experi-
ment, producing a message signed by the name of the
person which the second writer has written on her
sheet of paper, sealed, and kept in her own possession.
After this I read the writing of the second writer, and
answer the question asked therein.
There is some little time taken up in the prepara-
tion of the diflFerent writings ; so in order that the
spectators may not grow restless, and also to give
them some food for thought during the wait, (and inci-
dentally to render my task more easy to accomplish,)
I first perform Yost's *' Spiritualistic Slate and Dic-
tionary" test.
This is a very fine spirit slate trick in which three
slates, a flap, some other articles and some excellent
manipulation each play a part. Its eflfect upon the
more intelligent class is very marked. This experi-
ment convinces the spectators that the performer can
**do things" and that they are not wasting their time
in what is to follow. It thus does not allow the inter-
est to lag during the little time required in the prep-
aration of the writings. It also occupies the minds
of the spectators to such an extent that what is to
MEDIUM ISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS. 9I
follow is much more easily accomplished. Further
on in this work I will describe and explain the trick
referred to here.
II.
I now proceed to prepare the first writing. This,
however, I shall read second. I request some lady
to be seated in a chair in one of the front corners of
the front parlor. This places her rather in the rear
of the spectators. I state that this is to prevent the
others from seeing what she writes.
I now step to the writing desk and bring forward
some envelopes and slips of paper. I hand an en-
velope and a slip of paper to the lady, asking her to
write plainly on the slip of paper some question about
her future which she would like to have answered.
I ask her to hold the paper in her left hand, in such a
manner while writing that neither the audience nor
myself can in any manner see what she is writing.
As she thus holds the back of her hand which con-
tains the paper towards us, it effectually conceals her
writing. I pay no attention to her while writing, ex-
cept an occasional glance to see that she complies with
my request.
As soon as she finishes writing, I request her ^
the paper in half. This she does. I now reqi
to fold it in half the other wav and when she
I ask her to place the same in the envelope h
to seal it herself. When she has all ready, "^
to place it in her own pocket and keep i1
after I have read it. I in no wav touch il
When I desire more questions to be writtt.
to other ladies with the remaining envelopes
of paper, and have others prepared. Ildwa
.^ e.%
92 MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS.
when performing from a stage ; or have my assistants
pass to four or five persons each, thus preparing some
eight or ten questions for me to read mentally. I,
however, rarely prepare more than one question when
performing in parlors, as the time taken up delays the
experiment.
I now proceed to prepare the second writing which,
however, I read last when I have begun the reading.
I ask the lady, whom I shall call Lady Number One,
to exchange seats with some other lady ; and this lady
I shall call Lady Number Two.
I next bring Lady Number Two an ordinary writing
tablet, and ask her to write on it some question about
her future which she would like to have answered ;
and also to write below this question the name of some
person who is now dead, from whom she would like
to receive a message. I also request her to hold the
tablet while writing in such a manner that no one can
see the writing, and to use care that no one in any
way may know what she writes. I ask her ^o leave
a margin around the sheet free from writing, to be
used for folding purposes; and when she is through
with the writing, to tear off the sheet, fold it several
times, then seal it in a small envelope which I have
previously given her, place the same immediately in
her own pocket and keep it there until I have read
it. When she has all prepared, I direct her to lay the
tablet on a table that is convenient, and there it re-
mains throughout the evening in full view. When
she lays it on the table I do not go near it or pay any
attention to it ; and it can be examined thoroughly, as
there is no carbon paper or any similar thing about
it. I do not especially call attention to this fact, as
the suggestion of any possible trickery weakens the
MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS. 93
effect. However, on several occasions I have noticed
certain wise persons examining it quietly. This is all
the preparation for Lady Number Two's writing ; and
I now proceed to prepare the third writing, which
when prepared I read as the first reading.
I now bring from my drawer a small card about
one - thirty - second of an inch in thickness, red on
one side and white on the other. These are cut from
ordinary cardboard, obtainable in any printing office.
I ask some gentleman whom I regard as particularly
intelligent, or as hard to deceive, to kindly take his
seat in the center of the rear end of the front parlor.
I ask him to write across the card the name of some
great man, statesman, or politician, any one of whom
he can think, living or dead ; only I ask him to write
the name plainly in a bold hand, and to be very care-
ful that no one sees what he writes. I also give him
some article, it makes no difference what, (usually one
of the slates used in the "Spirit Dictionary" trick,) on
which to place the card while writing. I ask him
when through to turn the card over face downward
on the slate, turning it over towards himself and not
towards the audience, as otherwise they might see the
writing. This he does. While he is preparing this
card I return to the rear parlor to the drawer to get
some other articles, and pay no attention to him un
the card is written and turned over, and until he
forms me of that fact.
I now come forward with an envelope into whir
card will fit nicely ; and presenting it to him
flap side toward him and face downward, I ask I
insert the card himself, keeping the writing downWi
while so doing. I merely ask the privilege of i
94 MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS.
ing the card with the tip of my finger as he is passing
it into the envelope.
I next request him to seal the envelope himself, to
place it on the slate sealed side upward, and to make
certain marks across the sealed parts so that he can
tell if I should tamper with the same. I now bring
forward a seal and some sealing wax. I give him
the seal previously moistened, and proceed to melt the
wax, allowing it to drop on the center of the envelope.
At the same time I request him to seal the envelope
doubly, and to examine the seals so thoroughly that
there can be no possibility of substitution. When all
is prepared I am ready to beg^n the readings.
III.
I now take the gentleman's envelope in the tips of
my fingers ; and, stepping to the center table of the
second parlor, I lean it against the skull previously
mentioned, so that the wax seal faces the audience,
while all is in the brightest light.
I instantly return to the front parlor; and, seating
myself facing the spectators, I pay no attention to the
sealed envelope resting against the skull in the back
parlor. This requires not over two seconds of time,
there being no pause whatever in my movements.
I proceed to make passes over my own face in a
manner similar to those which the early mesmerists
made over their subjects. I simulate considerable
nervousness, allow my shoulders to be convulsed a time
or two, gaze toward the ceiling as if looking into in-
finity, and begin my attempt to read. I first request
the writer not to answer any questions I may ask, ex-
cept those I may ask him directly. This prevents him
HEDIUMISTIC READING OP SEALED WRITINGS. 95
from answering the first questions I ask and which
I am directing to some unseen being.
I hold my hand to my ear, a la Schlossenger. Al-
lowing it to tremble violently, I ask the unseen spirits
if the name written on the card is the name of a per-
son lif ing or dead. I apparently hear an answer which
the spectators do not hear, for I turn to the writer and
with great solemnity inform him that he has written
the name of one who is now dead. This of course is
supposing that he did write the name of a dead person.
If the person should happen to be living, I with the
same solemnity announce that fact to him.
Let us now suppose that the name written is that of
Aaron Burr. I again turn to the spirits and ask if the
person whose name is written died more than one
thousand years ago. When they answer me I turn
to the writer informing him that the person whose
name he has written died less than one thousand years
ago. I then ask the spirits if this man died in the last
five hundred years and get the answer that he died in
the last century. This I also give in a dramatic man-
ner. I then say, while gazing into emptiness, "I see
before me a man who is small in stature and slight in
figure but with a face finely cut and altq
its mold.' He wears no beard, his 1
back from over a wide forehead. .
with a pair of beautiful eyes.
effable sadness on his face, as il
he would have undone. Fie '
velvet, with black velvet knee '
stockings and shoes with silver 1
him a beautiful lady who reganl
infinite tenderness and pity. '-
daughter."
96 MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS.
The effect of this is very fine, as the writer corrobo-
rates my statements, or else states that he himself is
not familiar with the personal appearance of the one
whose name he has written.
I now attempt to read the writing. I begin by look-
ing into space and repeating the letters of the "alpha-
bet. I finally get the letter A. I repeat the process.
When about to get the second letter a, and while
making great efforts to get it and seeming rather un-
certain, I request the writer to be so kind as to step
to the table and bring his envelope and hold it on the
top of my head. This he does while I close my eyes,
and proceed with slight effort to read the complete
name.
I offer him a knife and ask him to open the enve-
lope and sec if his card is still within untouched, which
of course it is. I also ask him to examine the seal and
the envelope, and to hold the same close to the light
and see if it is possible to read the writing through
the envelope. This he and the spectators do, and of
course find everything as it should be and the writing
perfectly invisible. When he returns the envelope to
me I offer it to him to keep as a souvenir, which gen-
erally is accepted gladly by him.
I am now ready to read the writing of Lady Number
One and answer the question she has written. I
her if she still has concealed about her the wril
which she sealed and retained herself. She replies'
the affirmative. I then ask her if any one in the
knows what she has written. Upon her infonnii
that no one knows, and of the inip09sil)ilitv 'tit-
a thing being the case, I ask her ■
if I now succeed in reading her qi
ing near her, while she retains tb
MEDlUMISTtC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS. 9/
pocket. The spectators generally express their in-
credulity as to the possibility of such a proceeding,
upon which I inform them that I will make the effort.
I ask the lady, in ordtr to remove the idea of mind-
reading or telepathy, to keep her mind entirely off
what she has written. I then make the second effort,
assuming an air of great earnestness. I slowly read her
question letter by letter, and give a full and minute
description of the writing, the style of letters used
and any peculiarities of any of the letters. The effect
of this can well be imagined.
I now ask her to open her envelope, to examine it
carefully and see if I am correct, and to exhibit the
.same to the spectators. This she does, while I stand
at a distance repeating the peculiarities of the strokes
of the letters, etc., for their verification. I never look
at the^writing at all even after reading it. I simply
pay no attention to it, as my mysterious power of
vision is now superior to the sipht of mortal eyes.
I now tell Lady Number Two to continue to keep
her writing concealed, and that I will use it shortly;
whereupon I freqently have a selection of music: or if
not, I allow the spectators a minute or two of time
in whidi to consider and talk over what they have just
i Eccn.
ly to produce ,^
■0. signed hy llic
»n on liur com
question.
just inside ill
)rs, placing a c
tlates on ilic
me forward,
spirit r
isafic for
98 MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS.
the audience and to clean the slates. As she does
this I seat myself at the opposite side of the table.
As soon as she cleans them, we place the slates
imder the table; and I ask her to hold them while I
place my hands on the table top. In a few moments,
under my instructions, she brings from under the table
the slates, on which is a fine spirit message of philo-
sophical import, to which is signed the dead person's
name which she has written on the sheet of paper and
which she still retains sealed. The effect of this upon
her, and upon her friends who may have known this
person, is very great; especially as it is some one of
whom I have never heard. I have very frequently
known some of the spectators, who happened to be ac-
quainted with the person whose name is signed to the
message, to identify the writing and sometimes to iden-
tify the language as that of the dead person.
I next, with some little effort, proceed mentally to
read her question, minutely describing the writing, etc.
I then ask her to bring out the envelope, exhibit the
writing and verify my statements, which she does. I
now proceed to answer her question ; and if I have not
previously done so, to answer the question of Lady
Number One. Let us suppose the question asked is,
"Will I ever be wealthy?" I first consult the "Mystic
Oracle of the Cr>'stal Spheres." I place on the table
a highly polished crystal globe three inches in diam-
eter, such as is used for experiments in "Crystal Gaz-
ing." This globe is supported by a bronze griffon.
I have the lady gaze into the globe while I intently
look into it from the opposite side. I then with solem-
nity inform her that she will never be wealthy but that
she will be "well-to-do."
I assure my readers that the effect of this all is just
UEDIUHISTIC -READING OF SEALED WRITINGS. gf)
as great as if I really performed by some occult power
that which in reality I have but performed by trickery
of the simplest kind. I would have no trouble in pass-
ing it off on the majority of my spectators as the work
entirely of spirits. The experiments are so superior to
those usually employed by mediums, that the audience
is simply confounded. Also, there is abundant oppor-
tunity after reading the dead statesman's name, to call
him up in the manner so common with mediums and
give the audience an elaborate message from him, which
will have much weight with them, owing to the man-
ner in which his spirit has been summoned from the
land of shadows. However, I will say that while I
use these things in the manner outlined, after all is
over I assure my audience that it is not spirit power
which I use ; but I do not tell them it is trickery, as
that would detract from the effect. I simply let them
speculate and think what they please ; and I not in-
frequently find them determined, notwithstanding my
statement to the contrary, to believe that it is the work
of spirits, or else some occult power which I possess.
I have had intelligent and wealthy business men of
Omaha and other places question me, afterwards, about
the apparently marvelous power which they seem to
think I possess.
At one time I gave to the sisters of a Catholi^
or convent, one of my entertainments, f '
Mother Superior write and seal the great r.
The name she wrote was "Hannibal," wli^
I read for them very snccessfullv i ,■ ,
afterwards informed, privately
ever after insisted that I wm
tanic Majesty. This was n"
in this particular instance I i
lOO MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS.
was nothing but trickery. I knew the teachings of the
Roman Church in regard to anything like sorcery, or
necromancy, or even modem spiritualism ; and not de-
siring to give offense, I stated in advance that I was
merely illustrating what might be done by trickery
and how good people might be imposed upon by im-
postors. I stated that such things were never done by
spirit power ; and the Mother Superior remarked that
she was sure, if spirits did such things, they were only
"evil spirits." In this case I only gave the single read-
ing of the statesman's name as described above. I do
not know what would have been the result, had I per-
formed the complete combination experiment, with all
the dramatic play I usually employ.
The description given above is the exact appearance
of the experiments as seen by the audience. This is
exactly what the spectators see or think they see ; and
it is all that any of them do see. However, things are
not always just what they appear to fee.
IV.
And now to tear down the stnicture I have erected
— to shatter the idols, and return from the romantic
land of mystery to the commonplace things of earth.
I will proceed to explain the principles and the meth-
ods I really employ in reading these writings. The
readers of this work who desire to fully grasp the ex-
planations I am about to give should either memorize
the description of the experiments, or else refer to each
one separately when reading the explanation of that
particular one.
I will give the explanation of the different tricks as
far as I am at liberty to do so, and in the order in
which I read them. I will explain each one separately
MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS. lOI
beginning with the reading of the statesman's name,
which was the third writing in the preparation.
The reader will remember that after this envelope is
properly sealed with wax, I take it in my fingers and
carry it to the table in the back parlor, and lean it
against the skull. The principle used consists in this
instance in rendering the envelope temporarily trans-
parent, and instantly reading the writing in it unseen
by the spectators, while on my way to the table,
I use, for this, "Colonial Spirits," which is an odor-
less wood alcohol manufactured in this country. If
a sponge saturated with this be rubbed across any piece
of paper, it is rendered instantly transparent, as soon
as moistened ; and any writing under it can be easily
read. In a few moments the alcohol evaporates, and
the transparent condition of the paper disappears. This
principle has been known for some time in the world
of magic, but not in the particular way in which I use
it : and therefore it has not usually been worked so
successfully.
I accomplish my object tn the following manner. I
have in the drawer with my paraphernalia a half ounce
roimd tin box such as dniggists use for vaseline and
similar articles. I have crowded into this box a small
silk sponge which fills it a little above the edges like
an envelope moistener. I have soldered to the bottom
of this box on the outside, a circular disk of
purpose of "palming." This box I prejMUT
just before the experiment by saturating d
it with colonial spirits. I leave the lid or
prevent evaporation until.I am ready I
When I have the envelope sealed w'^h
the sealing wax and the seal to il
writing desk; and this gives me t
I02 MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS.
palm and go forward with the box containing the
saturated sponge. I allow my right hand, which con-
tains it, to hang carelessly against my right side. This
effectually conceals it, and I avoid looking toward
my right hand in any manner. I advance leisurely
to the writer and ask him if he is sure he can be certain
of the identity of the wax seal, and if he could tell if
the same should be broken. I now take the envelope
from him with my left hand, and turn around carrying
it to the table. On the way, as soon as the envelope
is out of the angle of view of the spectators, I raise my
right hand, and, passing the sponge over the face of
the envelope a couple of times, quickly read the name
under the bright light of a gasoline pressure lamp with
which for such occasions I have my parlor lighted.
Having the writer choose the name of a statesman
or some great man, greatly facilitates the reading: as
the names written are usually so familiar that the
merest glance is sufficient to read them. I then, as
soon as I reach the table, turn half around so that my
left side faces the audience; and with my left hand
still holding the envelope with the seal towards the
spectators, I stand it on the table against the skull,
asking the spectators if they can plainly see the seal
from there.
The envelope has only been out of the view of the
spectators a fraction over a second ; yet I now know
the name on the card. Meanwhile, with the right hand
I secretly drop the moistener into my right coat pocket,
or preferably into a small bag at the back of the table
behind the skull. If I use the bag at the back of the
table, I have it suspended open from a pivoted wire,
so that I can quickly swing it under the table out of
view with the fingers of my right hand. This I do.
MEOIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS. IO3
after dropping the moistener into it ; and al the same
time with the left hand I place the envelope against
the skull, and direct the attention of the spectators
to the seal hy my discourse, and by my looks. I in no
way look toward my right hand. Swinging the cloth
bag under the table, makes it safe for the writer of
the name to go to the table and get the envelope when
I request him to do so, I make all of my movements
leisurely, throughout the entire experiment : as by so
doing I can have a little more time when walking to
the table with the envelope, and yet not attract the
attention of the spectators to this fact.
For the dramatic play, it is necessary to have a
previous knowledge of the personal appearance and
history of the great men of the country whose names
are most liable to be written. The time required in the
dramatic play before the reading allows the alcohol
to thoroughly dry ; so that there is no trace of it when
the writer of the name goes to the table after it. By
using colonial spirits there is no odor noticeable. It
is safe to say that in a few seconds after the sponge
is passed over it, the moistened side of the envelope
could be turned towards the audience ; and nothing
would be detected, as the alcohol evaporates so quickly.
I use a small envelope of -wove paper of sufficient
thickness to effectually conceal the writing in the
strongest light. I found it necessary to use a card, the
white side of which is not glazed and 1
slightly dirty color; as otherwise the WH
be slightly visible through the envelo
the effect of the experiment. If a thidi
used, a whiter card may be used ii\ao;,
velope is not rendered so transp:i-
I use two styles of envelopes,—
I04 MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS.
lights are not strong, and a thicker one if the lights
are strong. I like to use stationery that can afterwards
be inspected by daylight; so, therefore, at my home
I use a gasoline pressure lamp on such occasions, as
a strong light in the room permits the use of an en-
velope of sufficient thickness. I also select a style of
envelope that does not expand or pucker from the
effects of the alcohol, and thus arouse suspicion.
When I have the writer turn the card over on the
slate towards himself and not towards the spectators,
this is in reality to insure having the writing right side
up when I afterwards pass the moistener over the en-
velope. I present the envelope to him open, flap side
towards himself, face downward, and hold it until he
has started the card into it. When I ask permission
to merely touch the card on its way into the envelope
with the tip of my finger, I do this to insure the card
going into the envelope with writing towards the front
side. When I afterwards pick up the envelope I notice
which is the flap he has just sealed, and I have this
flap uppermost. This brings the writing right side
up in my hand, and saves the time necessary to turn
the envelope when reading it.
I furnish the writer with a large-leaded soft pencil,
not too sharp, to write with, though any pencil will
do. However, a pencil of above description makes the
writing plainer and in a larger hand, which is of con-
siderable assistance in reading the writing so quickly.
The reader will remember, that I also request the
writer to write the name in a bold hand plainly.
Should one reach the table before succeeding m '
reading the name, it were better to make a slight |>ause
than to fail with the trick. However, after a few trials
this will never happen.
MEDIUHISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS, lOJ
Immediately after leaning the envelope against the
skull, I return to the front parlor and proceed with the
readings as given in the description of the appearance
of the experiments.
While considerable time is required to read this
chapter, much less time is required in giving the read-
ings. Only fifteen or twenty minutes is required for
the entire combination experiment.
The principle of using odorless alcohol on a sponge
has been published before, but as heretofore described
I have never found the trick practicable. As furnished
by the vendor, the instructions are for the performer
to have several of these envelopes prepared by himself
or his assistant ; and to have them placed flat on a table,
at which the performer seats himself. He now partly
closes his eyes ; but in reality he can see the envelopes
all the time. Then he slowly passes the hand with
the sponge over the different envelopes, reading aloud
the writing therein. It is intended to convey the idea
to spectators that by passing the hand over the enve-
lopes the performer gets en rapport with them. This
method is obviously for the stage only, as in a parlor
the spectators could see the effect of the alcohol. I
have never found this method very practicable; and I
assure my readers that in the method I have described,
less time is taken up and a much finer effect obtained.
It is also much more certain of success, and leaves the
spectators absolutely in the dark as to the method eir
ployed.
I have frequently performed these readings in ai
ences where are persons who have seen me perf
them before ; and in such cases they i Hably in
mc that they are more mystified thai were i
first place.
Io6 MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITtNGS.
The secrets of the remaming experiments, so far as
I know, have never been given to the public. The
principle that is used in the production of each of them
is entirely different ; therefore, if a spectator should
ever surmise the principle used in one of them, the
moment he should try to explain the others hy it, he
would see that it would not work ; and he would con-
clude that he was entirely wrong.
And now in regard to the principle which I use in
reading the writing of Lady Number One, I am sorry
to say I must here disappoint my reader, I am under
a promise to the dealer not to reveal this secret and
can not do so. Those who desire to use it, however,
can obtain it from George L. Williams & Co., 7145
Champiain Ave., Chicago, III. I regard this as one of
the best tricks extant, and regret my inability to give
its secret to my readers.
After the preparation of the writing for Lady Num-
ber One, I immediately go ahead with the preparatioo
of the writing for Lady Number Two. I will now
give the secret of this reading as completely as niy .
promise permits me to do.
In this experiment the secret lies in getting an im- !
pression of the writing, but iiol a carbon impression. j
This impression can not be seen by the eye at all, '
has to be "developed" afterwards. This is reaJly 1
very fine idea and was originally intended for 1
fessional mediums to use in tests with their subj$|
at private sittings. The tablet is apparently uq
pared and would stand the most thoi
yet there is a preparation.
I will first describe the preparation ol
UEDIUMISTIC READIKC OF SEALED WRITINGS. I07
then I will describe how I obtain possession of it and
how I develop the writing,
I use for this experiment a finely finished and highly
glazed paper. I take one sheet of it and prepare one
side of it by rubbing it over thoroughly with a material
common enough to be within every one's reach ; but
the vendor of tricks might deem it a violation of my
promise if I were to give its name, although the secret
to this part of the trick has been well known for some
time, and has even been published. It leaves a per-
fectly smooth surface. Only one in the secret could
discover that there is a preparation. Even I am fre-
quently puzzled to tell which is the prepared side, and
can only do so by holding it so that the light strikes
it at the proper angle.
This sheet is now to be placed on the tablet, prepared
side down : but, before doing so, I tirst touch the two
comers of the two top sheets of paper on the tablet
with library paste. I do this so that they will adhere
to each other a trifle, as this prevents the lady from
tearing off by accident the sheet which bears the
record, when afterwards she tears off the prepared
- sheet baring her question.
I now place the prepared sheet in position, prepared
side down, and paste the top in position with white
library paste. However, I allow this slioet to protnide
jont one-tbirty-second of an inch. This
} easy for the lady to got bold of it,
<lanjjcr of tearin,;; off more tlian
mrse. \\]u>n ^bo writi^s, llie writinij !■;
seond slivct. bul il is cnHrdy lu-
tten. I diroct bcr lo l;iv \\u- tablet
:onvenient; ami ii ,i|i|>arently lies
I08 MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS.
there throughout the evening. This is the point where
I begin the preparation of the writing of the states-
man's name, immediately thereafter giving the first
two readings. I only after the first two readings ob-
tain possession of this tablet and develop the writing.
I do it in this manner. I bring forward two slates,
which I shall soon use in the slate writing experiment,
and leave them on the center table in the front parlor.
Under one is a duplicate tablet, which I also leave on
the table, unnoticed by the spectators. I remove the
slates used in the dictionary trick, carrying away under
one of them the original tablet. Meanwhile, the spec-
tators are deeply engaged in a discussion of the two
readings I have just given them; and I inform Lady
Number Two that I will read her question a little
later, and for her to keep it in her possession until I
have done so.
I now go to other apartments for a few moments to
develop the record. I use for a holder for the sheet
of paper while working with it, the frame of a slate
of proper size with the slate portion removed. I fasten
the sheet in position on this frame with a couple of
pins, using care to keep the side with the record on it
upwards; because if it gets turned over, I can in no
way discover the fact until it is too late.
The writing may be developed in several ways; the
best way and the one I generally use, I can not reveal
on account of my promise of secrecy to the firm befion
referred to. I will, however, give a method whichf it
well known to many mediums, and which has
used bv them for a number of years.
I merely dust a little powdered plumbago, or a X
lampblack on to the sheet of paper, shake it arov
and then turn it over a vessel and dust it off by a
HBDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS. IO9
ing the paper very lightly with my finger nail. Tlic
writing will appear on the sheet plainly and may be
read. The method furnished by the above named
firm, however, is miich superior to this method.
I quickly memorize the question ; and on a slate
close at hand, where I have a message already pre-
pared, I sign the name of the dead person. This slate
is an exact duplicate in appearance, of the two slates
which were left on the table in the front parlor.
I now proceed to prepare the Spirit State experi-
ment, and give the final reading: but before describ-
ing this, which is one of the finest slate tricks of which
I know, I will give a little additional information re-
lating to the last reading experiment.
I was told to use a tablet with every sheet prepared.
but I first prepared only every alternate sheet and left
the rest unprepared. This worked nicely ; but as soon
as the tablet was used a few times. 1 found that all
the questions that had previously been written on the
tablet were copied for several sheets down. This
caused so many words to appear, that I was com-
pelled to discard all prepared sheets, excepting one.
as I have above described. A tablet could be prepared
with two prepared sheets on top and an unprepared
sheet between them. There would then be two im-
jircsslOnS on unprepari ^ sheets in the tabk't, but it
would be necessaryJD
each reading.
This trick,
use of profesi
a single dp"'"
written
ceed toi-
While Im
essaryJ|U
?1
■d all tliesc t
nps
riginally ii
nunil
lol f.>
at privai.
i> sit
linj;.-
les, after
lIU'
-ilU'T
1, he is d
ol to
Jid exanii
m- M
>lllr -
akes
the t
no MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS.
the table and places the same quickly in a large pocket
on the inside of his coat, taking therefrom and leav-
ing on the table a duplicate. He then advances to the
sitter and begins a lecture, when his doorbell rings.
As his servant fails to answer the bell the medium
excuses himself for a moment, and attends to the
matter himself, engaging in a discussion with the
servant while out, for not properly attending to the
door. This he does within hearing of the sitter.
Meanwhile he is rapidly developing and reading the
record.
This method I never liked, as it requires the assist.-
ance of another person. I much prefer the method
I have outlined.
And now for the Spirit Slate Message. I use three
slates, but the spectators never see more than two of
them at one time. I make an exchange of one of the
slates, unknown to the sitter or spectators. The table
is an ordinary one, and I do not conceal the prepared
slate on the person. The secret lies in the chair I sit
on. The slate is concealed under the seat on a shdf.
Just above this shelf is another shelf onto whkli I
slip the unprepared slate when I make the exchange.
These shelves can not be seen as the chair is one of the ,
variety known as "box seat." One of the sides, the I
right one, can be raised up to admit the hand to the i
shelves. This side is hung on hinges at the top. but A
they can not be seen.
I prepare the chair as follows: I get a nicely fin-
ished, box seat, oak, dining chair. I remove the cane
seat and replace it with a beautiful leather co^
seat. This renders what is underneath invislU
now, with a fine-tooth saw, neatly saw the el
MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS. It:
the box Strip underneath the right side of the seat,
where they enter the legs of the chair, I remove this
strip, which is some two inches wide. It is too thick ;
so with a saw I split the piece lengthwise, from end
to end, so as to leave it only about one-half inch thick.
It remains, of course, full two inches wide, and I am
careful not to mar the finish.
I hinge it back in place with three small hinges, at
its top, so that I can raise and lower it like a trap door
while sitting on the chair. By screwing the hinges
on a mere trifle out of line, the strip will move stiffly,
and will remain in any position in which it may be
left. I now place two, thin padded shelves under the
seat, one above the other. These are concealed when
the side piece is down, but when it is up they are of
course visible and the right hand can easily reach them.
As the strip is now so thin it offers no obstruction
when up, to getting at the shelves and making the ex-
change of slates.
I have this chair in the room adjoining the back par-
lor. As soon as I have developed and read Lady
Number Two's writing, I sign the message as stated
before, and slip this prepared slate onto the bottom
shelf of the chair.
to the spec-
Tliurc is a
some six iiiclie'i
iomcwhat less uii
'with its riglit sido
table away fr.nn
Vnnt parlor r\noth<"r
"Itrqiared. ! pl;iM'
' «i<le"tOWarcl
piece and all is ready.
I next place an ortUi
tators, but just inside
cover on this table whi
on the side next to the al
my side, I place the
towards the table. »'
the spectators, i J
chair juet like mini
this chair for the 1
112 MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS.
table, and at the side of the table which faces the spec-
tators.
I place on this table the two slates which I have pre-
viously placed on the table in the front parlor. I ask
Lady Number Two to be seated at this table. This
effectually conceals from her view and from the spec-
tators, the portion of my person and the prepared chair
that are below the table top. We thus both sit sidewise
to the table, and face the same direction. I ask her
to clean the slates; and just as she is finishing the
second slate, I take the first one in my right hand and
apparently place it under the table.
Now I have just raised the trap of the chair while
she was cleaning the first slate; so, as I bring this
slate below the table top, I slip it on the top shelf of
the chair silently, quickly drawing out the prepared
slate in its place, and lowering the side piece of the
chair. I immediately bring the prepared slate up
under the table, requesting her at the same time to
place her slate under the table with her right hand.
Upon her doing so, I immediately ask her to take her
other hand and hold my slate also. I instantly with-
draw my right hand. This all requires but a moment
and she has soon forgotten that I placed one of the
slates under the table.
Sometimes I take a small slate pencil and quickly
place it on the slates, instantly withdrawing my hand.
I now place my hands on the table top, and gradually
turn, facing the table. I call on the spectators to come
forward and watch the experiment, and the trick is
practically done.
At the proper time I direct the lady to bring out the
slates, which she docs, producing the message. After
the effect of this is over, I mentally read her question
MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS. II3
on the slip of concealed paper; then I direct her to
produce the envelope, open it and verify all. After
this I bring forward the crystal globe and answer
the questions as before described.
After all is completed, I take the cover off the table
and turn it over to the view of the spectators, that they
may see that there is no trickery, but that the table is
an ordinary one. I also offer my person for exami-
nation that they may be convinced that nothing is con-
cealed about me. I have never yet had any one suspect
the innocent looking chair.
I have performed many experiments in magic and
sleight-of-hand, and T have seen the best work of this
class in the country : and I can conscientiously assure
the readers of this work that I have never seen one
experiment of this class, the effect of which could in
any way begin to compare with the effect of the ex-
periments I have just described. This is especially
true among the more intelligent class of persons, who
may regard the very best work in magic as but the re-
sult of practice : but who insist on regarding this as
something else ; as something at least bordering on the
occult, and as something very rare.
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET
TESTS.
I HAVE decided to give to my readers a description
and explanation of a few of the best slate-writing
feats and billest tests that are being performed by
mediums and conjurors of the present day. I will
make no attempt at explaining a complete list of the
many tricks of the kind, for should I do so it would
require a large volume to contain it all.
There are certain dealers who supply secrets of this
kind to mediums and others desiring them, at what
may be considered by some as a very high price. There
are also books on the subject describing many sudi
feats; but those that are really the best, have been
pretty generally kept out of the books on the subject
Some can only be secured from the dealers, while
some have been guarded by certain mediums so closely ^
that I do not think the dealers have obtained the J
secrets yet.
The tricks to which I shall devote the most attention
are the ones used by such mediums, and certain ones^
supplied by dealers, these being the ones I regat^l ■.
the best and most deceptive of the kind.
The reader must understand that the most eai
part of any trick is the psychological part. Tl
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND lUIXKT TESTS. II5
sists in the operator absolutely controlling the sub-
ject's attention. This is termed, in the parlance of the
profession, " misdirection." A thorough master of
the art of misdirection has his subject entirely at his
mercy. The subject sees only what the operator de-
sires him to see, even though much of that which is
hi<l<len is performed before his very eyes.
I do not mean to convey the idea that the operator
employs a power anything like hypnotism, but merely
that he is an actor : that he directs the attention of the
subject entirely by skilfully directing his own eyes,
his own gestures, and his own attention, to the point
where he desires the attention of his subject to be
directed. Wherever the operator looks and points,
there will the subject most certainly look if he be
interested. It is possible then for the performer to
execute with the other hand any maneuver he desires,
entirely unseen by the subject; but he must in no way
look at such action himself, or he will be instantly dis-
covered.
A magician once remarked to me, "Tf 1 can only
get your attention intently, an elephant can pass be-
hind me and you will not see it." This may have
been a little Btroi^, but not so much so as one who is
not himself a perfome " suppose. Ttie attention
is like the field of viy an only be cnnccntratud
on one thing at a tilM
If any one repodH ritinp. where lie ii.nk hU
own slates, did|^^| 3 out <•( his liaii'U. am!
surely mistaktn^HH There has lj,.:i ^-une-
thing which '■ -hich he ilo,-s nni relate.
for the f ^ped his atieni;.-T, ;it the
time — i eemed a mere incident,
Il6 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
a little thing, an accident, or that he did not perceive
at all; but that was really the vital point, as it con-
cealed the trick. This is the verdict of all the reliable
conjurers who have ever investigated the subject.
Conjurers are always looking for things of this
kind ; and if they hear of such a trick, immediately
manage to see it if possible. They always see it with
different eyes, than do other persons. This is simply
because they are fitted bv education to detect a trick.
A conjurer is a specialist who is fitted to detect trick-
ery.
We hear many tales of marvelous slate tricks, but
can never find them. They are something like the
wonderful stories we hear about "Indian Magic." We
receive the latter at second or third hand, and far from
the scenes where thev occurred. When one of our
magicians makes a journey to that country to see
these things, he can not find them. He can only find
a number of tricks that are really inferior to the tricks
of our own performers at home. There is one little
difference, however, and that is the setting given these
tricks by the pretenses of the performer. In our coun-
try, the performer, unless he be a professional medium,
claims only that it is trickery ; while in that country,
as a nile, the spectators are allowed to believe the
prformance genuine. This greatly enhances the effect
of any trick.
Slate tricks, where the performer appears not to
touch the slates, are by no means the best or most
certain of success: but a good performer must be
able to perform all kinds and to adjust himself to the
conditions with which he is confronted.
I personally perform most of the tricks I am going
to describe, and I assure the reader that the explana-
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. 1 17
lions are given very accurately; so that the reader can,
if he so desire, reproduce the experiments. All the
tricks given are thoroughly practicable, and can be
successfully performed with a little practice.
In justice to myself I wish to state that I have al-
ways used these experiments for purposes of enter-
tainment or instruction, and that I have never imposed
on the credulity of any of my spectators. I have never
laid any claims to mediumistic powers, but have al-
ways acknowledged that the experiments were pure
trickery.
The reader must remember that when a trick is ex-
plained it immediately becomes commonplace, and that
it is only the mystery of good tricks that lends a charm
to them. To properly appreciate a good trick, one
should by all means see it performed before reading
the explanation, if it be possible to do so. When the
explanation is read without seeing the trick performed,
it is rarely held at its true value in the reader's estima-
tion. I assure the reader that the tricks which follow
appear very mysterious, and that they are the best of
their kind in existence. The reader has onlv to give
a few of them a careful trial to be convinced of this
statement.
r would advise any one who desires to thorough*"
understand these tricks, ti) read the explanation o
fully, and to form a good mental picture of a'
details of the performance.
T will first <lescribc a very excellent slate tri
is being worked most successfully by a few 1
sional mediums of the present day. This is p<-
with a number, usually eight, bound slates, o'
Il8 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
five by seven, and one large slate, size eight by eleven
inches inside measure. This trick is very easy to per-
form and very deceptive. Any reader of this article
can perform it successfully with a very few trials.
I generally have the subject take a seat near a small
table, and I remain standing at his left side while I
perform the trick. I first step to an adjoining room
as soon as the spectator is seated and get the slates.
I come forward with the slates arranged as follows:
in my l^ft hand and partly resting on my wrist and
arm is the large slate with the small ones on top of it.
I present the top small slate to the subject for in-
spection and cleaning, if he so desire. When he is
through with it, I take it in my right hand and place
it on the table directly in front of him. I repeat this
with each of the remaining small slates, placing each
one inspected on top of the others, thus forming a
stack. I do not even up the edges of the slates, but
leave the stack in a rough and unsymmetrical form.
When the last small slate is in position, I bring the
large slate in front of the subject, and giving him a
pencil, request him to ^in-ite on the large slate his name
and the date of his birth. If he desires to examine the
large slate before writing this, I allow him to do so.
As soon as he has done the writing, I place the larg^
slate in his lap and request him to hold it by the ends.
I then take a large rubber band and snap it around the
stack of small slates, after evening up the edges. I
now place this stack of small slates in his lap on the
large slate, and request him to place his palms on it.
After sufficient time has elapsed, I request him to
examine the slates for a message. When he does so
he finds a long "spirit'* message written on one of the
small slates, completely covering one side of it. The
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. 1 19
message is written with a soapstone pencil, and ap-
pears bright, and heavily written. It is addressed to
him by name, and is frequently signed by the name of
some departed friend whom I do not know.
This effect is secured by a very simple means, I use
nine small slates instead of eight. I prepare the mes-
sage in advance and sign it. The slate containing this
message is underneath the large slate when I come
forward with the slates. As I take my position at the
left side of the spectator, and tilt the slates slightly
towards him, the message slate can not be seen.
The subject naturally supposes that all of the small
slates are on top of the large one ; and when he has
examined all of the small slates in view, and I have
stacked them in front of him, he never dreams that
under the large slate in my left hand is another small
slate which he can not seei
I now bring this large slate into position right over
the stack for an instant, with its front edge tilted
downward and resting on the stack. I allow the small
bound slate under the large one silently to drop upon
the stack, and at the same time I take his attention by
giving him a pencil with my right hand and requesting
him to write on the large slate. I say, "Write your
name, etc., right there," pointing with my right fingers
to the center of the large slate. This takes his attcTi-
tion so that he does not notice the j
slate pauses over the stack c
ment. In fact this is done ii
I were merely holding the large slj
to show him where to write.
of it.
When the large slate is remon
lap, he does not notice that thii
I20 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
slate in the stack, for the reason that where so many
slates are used the addition of an extra one can not
be noticed unless the subject first count the slates. Of
course counting is never mentioned. The small slate
with the message on it has the message side down-
wards, so that the message can not be seen after it is
dropped on the stack.
I always keep the slates in my left hand until they
are inspected and stacked on the table, for the reason
that if the slates be laid on the table the small one
under the large one will make its presence known by
preventing the large slate from touching the table. I
allow the slates partly to rest on my arm until the
weight is reduced so I can hold them in the hand,
at which time I hold those which remain, in the left
hand only. This enables me to press the concealed
slate tightly against the lower side of the large slate.
As soon as the large slate is placed on the sitter's
lap, I up-edge the stack of small slates so as to even
them up. I take from the table a large rubber band
and snap it around the stack, ^s the stack is on the
side edges of the slates when I first up-edge them, I
next bring them upon the end edges, while I put the
band in place. It is now easy to place the stack of
slates upon the large slate message slate down, and to
attract no notice to this fact. This is because the po-
sition has been changed a time or so in placing the
band on ; and I then take the stack in my hands by the
edges of the slates, and simply place what was the top
side of the stack in the beginning, at the bottom. This
way the spectator never suspects that the stack has
been turned over : and when he does find his message,
he finds it on the bottom slate, and on its upper surface,
which greatly heightens the effect. His memory is
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. 121
especially good about cleaning the bottom slate, and
also about the upper surfaces of the slates being free
from writing; as he could see them all on the upper
surface as the stack was formed. The message thus
appears as if it had come by magic, or some super-
human power.
The secret of success with this trick is perfect self-
assurance. The operator must not act timid, but must
perform the experiment himself and direct the sitter
what to do. He thus makes his own conditions and
must never act in any way backward or embarrassed,
but perfectly at home in the performance of the ex-
periment.
The means by which I obtain the name of the de-
ceased friend of the spectator may be one of several,
some of which I will describe further on.
There are a number of tricks performed where a
stack of slates is used and an extra slate adroitly added
to it, or else one of them exchanged for another.
There is also an improved form of this trick which
I use. It is very superior and I will give it a little
later. It requires a little more skill at one point, and
also requires a knowledge of certain moves which I
give in the trick described in Number IV of this chap-
ter. In Number V. I will again refer to this trick, and
give the improved method ; as the reader will the"
mastered the moves required for its productiO'
There is also another trick with a stadc
which is very effective. In this trick no lar
used. The message is prepared in advance on
slate, and this slate is concealed on the floor
end of a small rug behind the table. As tb'
cleans each slate, the operator takes it an'
122 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
on the rug directly over the concealed slate. When all
of the slates are cleaned, the operator picks up the
stack from the floor ; and secretly inserting his fingers
under the concealed slate beneath the rug, he draws it
out and picks it up with the other slates.
The move is made so that it appears as if the opera-
tor merely picks up the slates on top of the rug, and
the subject never suspects that a concealed one is
drawn at the same time from under the rug. This
concealed slate has the message side upwards, and the
stack of slates are now evened up and laid on the chair ;
where, after holding the palms on them for a time, the
subject examines them and finds the message.
Sometimes when I perform this trick I have the mes-
sage slate on a table under a newspaper. When we
take our seats at the table I remove the newspaper out
of my way and lay it on the floor, a chair, or another
table. I then lay the slates on the table to be cleaned.
Of course I secretly remove the concealed slate under
the newspaper when I remove it, and lay both on the
floor, chair, or table.
As the spectator cleans the slates I stack them on
this newspaper, and when I pick up the cleaned
slates, I draw out the message slate as in the pre-
ceding trick.
III.
One other variation of the last trick is being worked
at the present time by a very noted medium. The
slates are placed in a stack on a small table directly
in front of the sitter. He is requested to clean them
one at a time. As he does so the operator, who stands
at his left, takes the slates in his left hand, and stacks
them on the left corner of the table.
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AKD BILLET TESTS, IZJ
There is a mantel just back of the operator and his
subject, on which lies concealed behind some object
a duplicate slate with a message on its under side.
As soon as the fourth or fifth slate is cleaned and in
place on the stack, the performer, who stands some-
what behind the subject, secretly takes the slate from
the mantel with his right hand. Just as the sitter
finishes cleaning the next slate the performer takes it
from him with his left hand; but just before placing
it on the stack he makes a pass, leaving this slate in
his right hand and carrying away from his right hand
the message slate. This pass can be executed instantly
and is immediately followed by placing the message
slate on the stack, message side down, with the left
hand ; while at the same instant the right hand returns
the slate the sitter has just cleaned to the position on
the mantel.
As soon as the stack is formed the medium up-edges
the slates, evens them up, and slips a rubber band
around them giving them into the sitter's lap to be
held. The stack is turned as in the preceding tricks,
and the effect on finding the message is just as great.
In regard to making the pass with the slates, the
operator should partly face towards the sitter's chair
and stand at the left side of the sitter, so that his right
hand is far enough back to be out of the angle of
vision of the sitter. The slates should be taken witl
the left hand and placed on the stack at the left. Wh<
the exchange is made, the left hand, on taking the sU
from the subject, should move for the merest instant
back of the range of his vision, meeting the right ha
and making the exchange. It shonld do this and wi
out pause place the message slate on the stack. *•
whole move should take but a fraction of a se
124 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
using about the same length of time that is used in
placing the other slates in position. Some remark
about the next slate to be cleaned, just at this instant,
helps to divert the sitter's attention and make the ex-
change more indetectable.
I will now describe how to make the "switch" as
well as I can without drawings, and any reader wish-
ing to try these tricks should master this move thor-
oughly. It is used in the next trick which I am go-
ing to describe, and which is one of the very best of
slate trick's.
The move is made in this manner: The slate in the
left hand is taken between the thumb and index finger.
and rests in a horizontal position on the side of the
finger facing the thumb. The remaining fingers of the
left hand do not touch the slate, but are below the in-
dex finger; so that they as well as the hand, form a
right angle with the surface of the slate. The middle
finger is spread apart from the index finger, thus form-
ing with it an opening into which the slate from the
right hand is to be slipped. The slate taken in the
right hand is also taken in a similar position; but just
the instant before making the pass, I always bring the
index finger on top of the slate and hold the slate
pressed between the index finger and the middle or
large finger. I keep the right thumb elevated, or
separated from the index finger, and bring the two
hands together, passing the slate in the right hand be-
low the slate in the left hand until the latter is directly
over the former. The slate from the right hand enters
between the index and second fingers of the left hand,
which should immediately grasp it tightly ; and the
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. 125
fingers of the right hand holding it should at the same
time release their grasp on it.
The index finger of the right hand passes below the
slate in the left hand when the above maneuver is
made, and the right thumb passes over this slate.
These should instantly grasp the left-hand slate while
the left thumb and index finger release it. The hands
should be instantly separated, the right now carrying
away the slate held before in the left hand, and the
left hand carrying away the slate held in the right
hand. This move does not require over a tenth of a
second and is very simple and easy to execute, if one
will but try it. Without figures it requires some little
description, but it is very simple nevertheless.
If any reader of this work will take two small
padded slates and try this move for five minutes, con-
stantly passing the slates from one hand* to the other
and back again, the "switch" can be made many times
a minute : and in five minutes' practice the hands will
do the work almost by reflex action, without looking at
them at all, and the reader will then be able to execute
the next trick which I will now describe.
This tnck depends upon the "switch" o£.
scribed above. I tell my subject lo tak<* a
a small table, and meanwhile I have two ^1'
hands as above described. Thi' messapi-
prepared on the under side of th ti-'it
hand.
The message is written in si
left index finger does not erasi
slate. I carelessly hand the sp"
right hand, with the
126 SPIRIT SLATE- WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
slate on both sides." I do not tell him what I intend
doing in any manner; and although I hold the other
slate in my left hand. I say nothing about intending to
use it. I merely say to him, "Examine this slate, will
you please?" Just at the instant that he is through
with it, I take it from him with my right hand; and
at that verv instant I remark, "I must use a chair in
this experiment." At the same time I direct my gaze
to a chair on my right that is slightly out of reach, and
say, "I will use that." The subject can not help glan-
cing at the chair as I say this, and at that very instant
the "switch" is made. I instantly hand him the slate in
my left hand before getting the chair, saying, "ex-
amine that slate also." As I say this I lay the slate in
my right hand on the table in front of but some dis-
tance away from him. This slate was the one before
held by my left hand and the message is on its under
surface. The slate the subject is examining is the same
one he examined in the first place.
I quickly get the chair, keeping my eye on the sub-
ject to see that he gives his attention to the slate in
his hands ; and instantly taking my seat opposite him,
I quickly take the slate from him, saying, "I will now
place this slate on top of this one." As I say this I
lower his slate over the one on the table, and place
my palms on my end of them requesting him to do
the same at his end of them. All of this, which takes
so long to describe, does not require a half minute to
execute.
After a time I lift off the top slate and look for a
message between them. I do not turn the top slate
over, although there is nothing on its lower side ; but
I merely look on the upper surface of the lower slate.
As I do this I have the top slate in my right hand by
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BlI LET TESTS. 127
its right edge, and I have picked up the other by its
left edge with my left hand, and raised it about an inch
from the table. As I remark, "There is nothing on
that slate," I bring the two slates again together. But
this time I bring the slate in my right hand under the
one in my left hand.
It is merely passed under it as I bring the hands tc^-
gether and this fact is not noticed by the spectator. In
fact in the first place as I lift off the top slate with my
right hand, my left grasps the lower slate so soon
after the right hand grasps the top slate that the top
slate is not more than an inch removed to the right,
before the left hand has the lower slate and the two
are separated ; that is, the left hand moves to the left
as much as the right hand does to the right, and neither
hand is lifted more than an inch or two from the
table.
I remark, "There is nothing on that slate," instantly
passing the right slate under and the left slate over,
bringing the hands together. If the move be made as
just described, the subject will never notice that the
slate that was the top one in the first place, is now the
bottom one, and zice versa.
We replace the palms and wait a few moments,
when again I separate the slates exactly as I did in the
first place. The message is now on the under side of
the upper slate, and can not be seen as I do i
this slate over. I make the remark, "No n
as if surprised and dissatisfied : and I 1
hands tc^ether again as in the first instaui
that this time / leave Ihe messrt''r stale «
I do not place the slates on Hie f
edge them instead, and pirn I
with my left fingers; while w-
128 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
from my right vest pocket a small piece of slate pencil.
I remark, "Perhaps if we had a pencil we would get
something; and separating the slates the slightest bit
at the top with my left hand, I drop the piece of
pencil between them with tny right hand, quickly clos-
ing the slight opening.
I now lay the slates flat on the table ; but this time
/ lay them so that they are turned over, or so that the
message slate is now underneath with the message on
its upper surface. We instantly replace our palms on
the upper slate. Noiv all of this maneuvering has deen
for the purpose of bringing the message slate to the
bottom, message side uptiHjrds; and also for showing
the sitter the upper surface of the lower slate repeat-
edly, and akcays free from writing. This greatly en-
hances the after effect of the trick. I, of course, do
not tell him why I am thus maneuvering; in fact, he
does not know I am maneuvering, and afterwards
merely remembers my separating the slates and look-
ing on the upper surface of the lower one rei>eatedly,
but finding nothing. As a result, when next we look
at the slates, he is deeply impressed on finding a mes-
sage where but an instant before there was none. I
do not separate the slates this time myself, but merely
remove my palms and ask him to examine them.
A subject^s memory is so poor at recalling little
details, that all he can remember afterwards is that he
examined both of the slates, that they never left his
sight, and that he repeatedly looked at them and saw
no message ; that finally, on separating them, he found
a message where but an instant before there was none.
The reader at first sight might not give to all this
maneuvering the proper importance, and might con-
sider the trick performed when the slates are first
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILL£T TESTS. 129
examined and placed on the table ; but I will say that
this subsequent maneuvering is what makes this trick
the superb effect which it is, and makes it really one
of the best slate tricks for a single spectator.
The reader will please remember the moves just
described which I execute after the exchange of the
slates, and after I lay the slates on the table one on
top of the other. These moves are the closing part
of the trick which I will next describe, and which I
made mention of in Number II of this chapter.
I will now refer the reader to the trick described in
Number II wherein one large and nine small slates are
used. In this trick I use the same slates but the modus
operandi is somewhat changed.
I do not enter with the eight small slates on top of
the lai^e slate as in the trick described in Number II ;
but I have the slates arranged after the following
manner : The nine small slates are stacked one on the
other, with the message slate on top, message side
down. On top of this stack is the large slate.
I enter with these and place them on the table di-
rectly in front of the sitter. I stand at his ^ft and
with my left hand I remove the
stadc, carrying under it secretly
This small slate bears the messaj
surface of the large slate towards
to prevent his seeing the e(
left fingers press tightly ap!'
large slate. With my right '
the stack of eight small alat<
in his lap, clean them one ni
the table in front of himsd..
Lie from the
.mall slate,
'tilt the top
itor so as
||ch mv
■f the
130 SPIRIT SLATE- WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
As I thus direct him, my left hand still holds the
large slate a few inches above the table top and a few
inches farther from the subject than the position where
I first placed the slates. I now state that while he
cleans his slates, I will write on the large slate any
mental impression which I may receive. I allow the
lower edge of the large slate to rest on the table, and
taking a pencil in my right hand I proceed to write
some name. I try to write one that the sitter will
recognize ; but if unable to do so, it makes no differ-
ence. Meanwhile, I see to it that, while I am writing,
the sitter continues to clean and stack the slates in
front of himself.
I time my writing so as to finish the name just as
he cleans and stacks the fourth slate. At this instant
I bring the large slate directly in front of him (and
right over the stack he is forming), and pointing to
the name I have written I say: "Do you recognize
that name?" This takes his attention; and at that in-
stant I allow the concealed message slate behind the
large one to secretly drop upon the stack from under
the large slate. The large slate is resting with its
forward edge on the front edge of the stadc, and its
rear edge elevated some thirty degrees, when I exe-
cute this maneuver.
The subject proceeds to read the name; and if he
happens to recognize it, I give him a verbal reading
while he continues to clean and stack the remaining
slates. If he does not recognize the name, I instruct
him to go ahead ; as my ** impressions do not seem to
come readily, owing to improper conditions."
Just as he stacks the last slate, I take the stack in
my hands like a pack of cards and spread them out
quickly, fan-wise, just as a person playing cards does
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. I3I
the cards which he holds. I, however, keep them in
a horizontal position near the table.
Now, if the message slate be the fifth one down from
the top, I allow the fourth one to remain on top of it
in such position that the edges of the two slates coin-
cide. All of the slates are spread except these two,
which accidentally ( ?) remain as if fastened together,
I now with my fingers secretly push these two for-
ward a good inch in advance of the other slates, and
direct the sitter to "take two of these slates." As he
starts to obey, I push these two right into his hands;
and just as he draws them out, I remark, "Any two
that you wish." I really "force" these two slates, just
as a magician "forces" the selection of a desired card.
As the subject draws the two slates, I instantly tell
him to lay them on the table, which he does. The
message is on the under side of the lower slate, and
I see to it that they are not turned over. I now close
the trick with the same maneuvers I use in closing the
foregoing trick which I described in the last number.
The effect is beyond description ; as the sitter thinks
he has just cleaned all of the small slates, and that he
of his own free will chooses two of them at random :
that of these two, we repeatedly look on the upper sur-
face of the lower one for a message,
and then, suddenly, without these staUj
sight, he finds a message on the upper "I
lower slate.
I know a medium who produces s
manner, which appears to lu-
ring worn by the sitter. The
advance by rubbing a shti'
ceti wax or paraffin. Whin
oughly, it is laid on a slab.', ,
132 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
message is now written on this sheet of paper. The
pencil passing over the paper causes the messag'e to be
transferred to the slate in wax writing. The medium
now dusts bronze powder over the slate, shakes it
around and dusts it off. The powder adheres to the
wax, and the remainder of the slate is cleaned care-
fully of all loose powder.
With the slate thus prepared, the performer pro-
ceeds with the trick as described in this number ; except
instead of dropping a piece of pencil between the two
slates, he asks for the plain gold ring of the sitter, and
drops it between them. The message appears rather
dimly, written in gold, as if it had been traced by the
ring. This trick always makes a great impression on
a subject.
VI.
I will here describe a means of secretly reading a
question written on a slate by a sitter. The performer
uses a stack of nine small slates with one large one on
top of them as in the preceding slate trick. The slates
are brought in and placed on a low table in front of
the sitter, and the operator takes his seat opposite him
at the table.
The operator now takes up the large slate from the
stack and secretly takes a small slate underneath it, as
in the slate-writing trick. He keeps the small slate
on the side of the large one next to himself. There
is no message on any of the slates and they are all
perfectly clean. The operator begins figuring in small
figures, or hieroglyphics, on the upper portion of the
large slate. This is a mere excuse for taking up the
large slate.
As he does this he requests the sitter to take a small
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. I33
slate and write thereon such questions as he may de-
sire answered and to sign his own name thereto. This
the sitter does ; and as he faces the operator and holds
the slate in front of his face, vertically, the operator
can not see his writing. While the subject writes his
questions, the operator takes the stack of small slates
with his right hand and places them in his lap. As
he does this he retains the large slate in his other hand
with the concealed small slate behind it.
When the subject has finished his writing, the ope-
rator directs him to place his slate face downward on
the table. This he does. The operator now asks,
"What was your birth month, please?" or some similar
question, and appears to make some kind of a mark on
his large slate. He then, with his other hand, takes
the slate on the table which contains the questions on
its lower side, and places it face downward on the stack
in his lap without in any way looking at it. He now
places the large slate on the stack, and places his palms
on it for a moment while he gives a few verbal impres-
sions to the sitter.
He now takes up the large top slate in one hand,
but does not this lime carry up a concealed slate behind
it. The subject naturally supposes that the top slate
of the smalt ones is the one bearing the questions ; but
it is not, for the reason that wlicn the operaU
the large slate on the stack just after placin
tion slate on it, he of course phced the ciiiin
slate on the stack at the same time. The q
is therefore the second slate from the \
the top one.
The operator now lifts off tin
downwards with the other haiKl
table without looking at its uiiil'
134 SPIRIT SLATE- WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
ject supposes that his questions are on its under sur-
face, but thev are instead on the under surface of the
top small slate left on the stack.
The operator now places over the slate on the table
a newspaper which is at hand, at the same time laying
down on the stack in his lap the large slate in his other
hand. He now requests the sitter to place his .hand on
top of the newspaper which rests on the slate that he
supposes bears his questions. The operator requests
him to close his hand tightly and allow his fist to rest
on the paper as "this makes the magnetism better."
This prevents the subject from lifting up the slate and
examining it, which sometimes happens if such pre-
cautions be not taken.
The operator now takes up the large slate again
from the stack in his lap and appears to again figure
in its top corner. He, of course, secretly carries up
behind it the slate with the subject's questions on it.
While appearing to figure, he quickly reads and mem-
orizes these questions and names. He now asks the
subject to remove his hand, and he quickly takes the
small slate under the paper on the table and replaces
• it on the stack, at the same time placing the large slate
in his other hand on top of it. This secretly places the
question slate on top of all the small slates, just as it
should be, and as the subject has supposed it to be all
of the time.
The operator now asks some other questioij of the
sitter, as, "What star were you born under?" or some-
thing of the kind and makes a few hieroglyphics on
the large slate ; and then he places the entire stack on
the table, requesting the sitter to clean the slates. The
sitter docs so, and of course finds his questions on the
under surface of the upper small slate as it should be!
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. I35
The Operator requests the subject not to let him see
the writing, and now proceeds with the reading. He
can give a fine verbal reading with the information
he now possesses, or he can produce a message as I
have before described wherein a stadt of slates is used
and the message written in the subject's presence.
It is thus easy for an expert performer to sit down
to a table and have the subject write his questions in
the operator's presence, to write the answers in the
sitter's presence, to do all before his very eyes and
yet not be detected in any of it as the secret is so subtle.
Such performer must, however, be an actor and a mas-
ter of the art of "misdirection."
There is another means of secretly securing knowl-
edge of a subject's questions, or, as is sometimes done
by mediums, of a confession of some secret thing
which such subject has done, or in which he desires
help, and yet is anxious to keep secret. Here a stack
of small slates, with one large one, is again used.
In the latter case the medium informs the subject
that he does not care to know what the subject may
confess; but that it is necessary for him to write out
a full confession, giving all names, etc., if he desire
spiritual aid. That, however, he '
■feet liberty
to keep the confession entirely'
The subject is then given"!
or he may
use his own; and he is din
Dut his con-
fesston, or questions, as '
and t.> seal
the same in an envelope 1
. While hv
is doing this the mediu'
Hting un tlif
large slate, as if busy
r of his own.
He sits side-wis« to tl
■es not a]'\>r:,r
to watch him.
136 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
When the subject has written as he is directed, the
medium instructs him to seal his paper in the envelope
and to lay it on top of the stack of small slates whidi
are on the table in front of him. When he has done
so, the medium places the large slate on top of the
stack of small slates, and asks the sitter to write on
this large slate the name of some dead relative. When
this is done, the medium lifts the large slate off the
stack, secretly carrying under it the top small slate.
At the same time he asks the sitter if the name on the
large slate be that of a dead relative.
Now, on the second small slate from the top, the
medium has previously secretly placed a duplicate en-
velope with a sheet of paper in it; so that when the
top slate is carried away secretly, under the large slate,
and bearing on its upper surface between it and the
large slate the envelope containing the writing of the
sitter, this duplicate envelope on top of the remaining
slates will appear to be the one the sitter has just
sealed and placed there.
The operator usually has some paper and other loose
objects on one end of the table, so that he can lay down
the large slate with the concealed one under it ; and so
that the concealed slate will not make its presence
knowa by preventing the large slate from touching the
table, as would be the case were it laid flat on the table.
The operator now asks the subject to lay "his" en-
velope on the table to one side, and to select two of
the slates. This he does, (really laying the duplicate
to one side), and the medium now has the subject
place his palms on these selected slates and try for a
slate writing. He remarks that he does not feel quite
right just now, and fears that he can not succeed, as
conditions do not seem favorable. After a short trial
SPIRIT SLATF.-WRITING AND BlLl-ET TEt
and failure, he generally tells the subject that he will
have to give up at present ; but for hiin to return to-
morrow or later in the day, and he will make a seconJ
effort, when conditions will doubtless be more favor-
able. He says, "Remember vour questions (or con-
I
fession)"; and reachi
envelope which the sut
and says, "I will let yc
not, either; as that w
burn it up." Suiting ■
a match and burns th
entirely to ashes, allov
the slates. He now dis
an appointment for a
As soon as the sub
lifts the large slate ; ai
p the duplicate
ains his writing.
lui you — no. I will
je right. I will just
10 the word, he takes
envelope and paper
r to fall on one of
; me subject, after making
I trial.
las departed, the meilium
ng up the original enve-
lope on top of the con-^aied small slate, he opens and
reads the confession, or questions, as the case may be.
He thoroughly memorizes all, and prepares a fine mes-
sage, answering everything; so that when the subject
returns, he will have all of his writing answered very
completely.
The medium with whom I am acquainted, and who
works this fine (rick verj- frequently, generally has the
subject depart and make a second visit as herein de-
scribed; but if he prefer, he can, after failing to pro-
duce a message, and after burning tlic duplicate en-
velope, conduct his guest to some oilier apartment for
some other experiment, and return later for a second
trial for a message. In this case an assistant enters
the room, reads the writing, and prepares tlic message
g the absence of the medium and his giii-st.
, the medium have a dark ciiamluT, he can have
n the subject into it for some dark sitting niani-
138 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
festations ; as the absence of light-waves is very con-
ducive to success with the "spirits," and is very helpful
in "establishing favorable conditions and harmony."
After some experiments here they return and again
try for a slate writing; and this time the subject is
thoroughly satisfied and convinced.
* * *
If when a sitter receive a slate writing from a dear
one who is dead, he receive in addition thereto a token
of love in the shape of a flower, a handkerchief of
soft sillc, or some other object, the performance has
a very emotional effect on him ; and such token is
usually preserved throughout life. Now, in working
any of these tricks using a stack of slates, if a larger
number of small slates be used, such as twelve or
more, two slates can be added or removed under the
large slate instead of one, and will attract no notice
if removed or added when a sufficient number are in
the stack. These two may contain between them, in
addition to the message, such flower or token as the
medium may desire.
If the performer be able deftly to hold the token
against the lower side of the concealed small slate,
and adroitly to insert it, he need not have more than
one small slate under the large one.
VII.
There is a trick wherein but two slates are used that
is very effective. I will give the explanation and effect
together in this case.
I have the message prepared on one of the slates,
and I use a small center table such as has a shelf at-
tached to the legs about a foot above the floor. I lean
the prepared slate on the floor against this shelf, and
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. 1 39
out of view on the side of the table opposite where the
subject is to sit. I have a chair near the same side
of the table where I will later take my seat.
On the center of the table a number of newspapers
lie carelessly. I place a chair near the side of the table
where I desire the spectator to sit. I now seat him
on this chair and stepping to a drawer, I bring him a
small slate with bound edges; one that looks just like
the one containing the message. I ask him to thor-
oughly examine or clean it; and as he does so I seat
myself at the opposite side of the table. I now re-
quest him to place his slate flat on the table, and to
place his palms on it. I then request him to rest his
face on his hands while they lie on the slate for a half
minute, and to close his eyes and make his mind pas-
sive while so doing.
While he does this I secretly reach to the floor, lift
the message slate and lay it flat on my knees under
the table, message side up. I now place my palms on
the table and in a few moments ask the subject to ex-
amine his slate for a message. He, of course, finds
none; and I seem disappointed at this, but request
him to hold it for a time on the table and try aj^ain.
This all lends an air of ^rcat honesty to the perform-
ance and tends to throw the subject off his f^^uard. On
examining the slate a^ain he finds nothini^. so I take
the slate from his hands and examine it to sec if there
actually be no si^n of writini^. I'^indini^ nothin.c:. I
place the slate under the table near the center, with
my right hand, in a rather hiirrit'd manner : and I
request him to reach his rii^ht hand nnder the table
and grasp the slate and to ])ress it to the tahle above it.
I tell him to leave his left palm on the tahle ; and I take
his attention snfiiciently in telling him how to place
140 SPIRIT SLATE- WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
his left palm on the table, that it prevents him from
looking under the table in any manner. I immediately
bring out my right hand, leaving him holding the slate
with his one hand.
I suppose that it is hardly necessary to state that as
I lower my right hand with the examined slate below
the table, I leave this slate on my lap and instantly,
without pause, carry up under the table the prepared
slate which is on my knees.
Now, that the subject is holding the message slate
in proper position with his other palm on top of the
table, I make a move as if to place my right hand on
the center of the table. Meanwhile my left hand has
dropped out of sight, apparently, by my side. I seem
annoyed by the newspapers in the center of the table,
and remark, **I will clear these out of the way." As
I say this I take a number of them in my right hand
and pass them to my left hand, which comes up near
the height of the table top to meet my right; but it
secretly contains the slate which was left on my lap.
The papers in my right hand are moved towards my
left hand so as to conceal this slate, and my left hand
grasps them on top of the slate which it contains. The
left hand should not be high enough for the back edge
of the slate to be in view of the sitter, until after the
papers are passed over it and grasped on top of the
slate. As I make this move I am rising form the
chair ; and with my right hand I pick up the remain-
ing papers and pass them also to my left hand, but
this time I pass them underneath the others \ so that
the slate is now between the papers in my left hand.
At the same time I take hold of my chair with my right
hand and set it back out of my way.
I now quickly place the papers on a table just
sratrr slate-writing and billet tests. 141
through a folding door and secretly place the discarded
slate in a concealed position. I do this very quickly
and return ; but meanwhile I am instructing the sitter
haw to press his right palm to the table with the fingers
spread apart, but with thumb contacting the first finger,
etc. I keep my eyes on him except for a moment and
take his attention so that there is no danger of his
examining the slate the mere instant I am out of view.
I return at once to the table, standing, this time, and
placing my palms on each side of his. In due time he
brings out his slate and finds the message.
Should he examine the table nothing can be found,
neither can an3rthing be found on my person. This
trick is very eflFective; and the sitter usually forgets
that I placed the slate under the table for him, and
states afterwards that the slate never left his hands
after he cleaned it.
When I place the slate under the table in the first
place, I remark, "May be if the slate is under the table
we will get something ;" at the same instant placing it
under in a natural manner, and requesting him to pass
his right hand under the table and grasp it. I make
no pause in changing the slates on my lap. and the use
of slates with bound edges prevents all noise.
This trick may seem difficult to the reader, but I
assure him that it is very simple. It only requires that
the details be well fixed in the mind of the operator,
and that he have ample courage to try it and direct
all operations himself. He must be perfectly at home
and not in the lesat etnbarrasscd, and must act with
perfect self-confidence.
142 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
VIII.
I will next describe a slate trick sold by certain
dealers. It is a very excellent trick and is used by
many of the very best performers of the present day. I
know a professional medium who uses it very success-
fully. I happened to meet him ; and in the course of
certain discussions over trickery resorted to by certain
mediums, I made mention of this trick, and even per-
formed it for him, afterwards explaining it to him,
I soon heard of his performing a slate test which
answers the description of this one, and with which
he was so successful that he received almost a column
notice in the Progressive Thinker of May 26, 1906.
I may incidentally mention that prior to my discus-
sion of the subject with him, he gave no slate-writing
tests. In fact, when I first met him, he made no claims
to mediumistic powers, but merely acted as manager
for his wife who was a medium. I also happened to
explain the billet test to him, wherein the spectators
write questions on thin cards addressing them to spirits
and then seal them in envelopes. They are taken to
the operator, who with them, is placed under a large
cloth cover and enveloped in perfect darkness. The
operator reads them by holding a small electric flash
light behind the envelopes in the darkness. The en-
velopes are rendered transparent in this manner, and
the writing can be easily read.
I soon thereafter heard of his working this trick in
a public hall, going into a trance, lying on a table, be-
ing covered with a large drape and in absolute dark-
ness. The billets were placed under the cover with
him, and he gave the tests, handing out each envelope
unopened as he answered the question it contained.
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. I43
The audience was greatly impressed with this seance.
I will now describe the slate trick.
The performer enters with three slates. The subject
is seated in a chair but the operator or medium remains
standing. The operator now lays the three slates on
a table close at hand. He picks up the top slate, which
is free of all writing, and washes and dries it on both
sides; then holding it to the eyes of the subject, asks
him if the slate is perfectly clean, exhibiting both sides
to his view. It is a fact so evident that the subject
thinks everything honest, and, in fact, does not look
for trickery.
The operator now asks the subject to take this slate
in his r^t hand and hold it. This the subject does,
and is of course at liberty to thoroughly examine the
slate, which for that reason he seldom does. If he
should do so there is no harm done, for the slate is
without preparation.
The operator then takes the next slate from the
table, cleans and exhibits it in the same manner, and
finally requests the subject to hold this slate in his left
hand. This the subject does. The operator now takes
up the remaining slate and thoroughly cleans and ex-
hibits both sides of it to the spectator. Then taking
two of the slates, he places two sides of them together
right imder the eyes of the sitter, call in i^ his attention
to the fact that no writinf^^ is on either.
The operator now ties the two slates together and
gives them to the subject to hold in his la]), and asks
the subject to place his handkerchief on them. Next
the operator takes a silk foulard or ordinary muffler,
and asks the subject to wrap the remaining- slate in
this, to place it on top of the other two slates, and to
place his hands on the same. This is done and tb
144 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
operator takes care thereafter in np way to go near
or touch the slates. Meanwhile he talks on the proper
subject for a time, and then directs the spectator to
open and examine the slates. When he does so he
finds a long spirit message completely covering one
side of one of the slates.
If in any manner it has been possible for the operator
to have previously become acquainted with any of the
history of the sitter, this message may be from a de-
parted friend or relative, in which case the effect on
him is very great.
What was it that happened without the knowledge
of the sitter? In what way has the operator accom-
plished this illusion? First there are certain moves
that escape the notice of the subject, and are forgotten
simply because they are accomplished in a perfectly
natural manner. Also there is a secret about one of
the slates. It is of the style known as a "flap slate."
Such a slate is an ordinary one, except that there is
a loose piece of slate called a "flap" which fits neatly
into the frame of the slate. When the flap is in posi-
tion the slate appears to the sight as an ordinary slate,
and any message written on the surface of the slate
proper under this flap, can not be seen. The flap fits
loosely enough so that if the slate be turned over it
will fall out and expose the concealed message. There
are many trick slates, but the "flap slate" is the best
and the one most generally used. It can be used in a
number of different ways.
This slate, with the message prepared upon it and
signed, and the flap in position over it, is situated at
the bottom of the three slates. The performer places
these three slates on a small table or chair when he
enters as stated at first. He cleans and exhibits the
t
I
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND B11X£T TESTl I45
first two slates and gives them to the subject to hold
as already described. Now he next cleans and exhibits
the third slate, using care to grasp it with his fingers
«o that the flap does not drop out. He turns both sides
of it to the subject for lO, after having
so thoroughly examined s, is Dy this time tired
of the repetition of such miination where noth-
ing can be discovered, a refore more ready to
look and be satisfied.
The performer now t rom the subject's hand
one of the other slates ai icea it on top of the slate
in his own hand. It mus remembered that the slate
in the operator's liand i p side up and in a hori-
zontal position. He pia ihe side edge of the un-
prepared slate on the si ^dge of the flap slate, one
being at a right angle to the other, and then he calls
attention to the fact that there is no writing between
the two slates. He next closes the slates.
Now here comes the natural move that escapes the
subject and is forgotten afterwards. The operator
appears to be examining the edges of the two slates
to see if they fit neatly ; and in doing so he looks
toward the window or other light, and holds the two
slates to this light edgewise as if he were peering
between them to see if they fit. As he brings up the
slates to look through them he merely turns the for-
ward end over towards his eyes and peers through.
This move attracts less attention, if the operator first
tilt the right edge of Ihe slates downward, and appar-
ently inspects the left edge of them as if looking to see
" 'hey 6t neatly. He .'ihoujrl then immediately tiring
to a horizontal position, tilt up the tnd tvirlhust
himself, inspect it an instant, and then elevate
wer end towards a window or light and peer
146 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
through. In this manner the moves seem natural,
and if executed rapidly attract no notice.
This turn, of course, brings the flap slate to the
top and the flap falls from it quietly into the unpre-
pared slate. As the performer looks through these
slates he remarks that they do not seem to fit properly ;
and suiting his action to the word he lowers his hands
with the slates to the table, leaving the lower or un-
prepared slate, now containing the flap, on the table.
Remarking, "Let me try that one," he takes the re-
maining slate from the subject, quickly placing his
slate on top of it. As. he does all this he of course
does not expose the lower side of the slate in his hands
to the view of the subject, because it contains the mes-
sage. He holds this slate slightly tilted so that the
message side is away from the subject.
As he takes this second slate from the subject, he
places his slate on top of it and peers through between
them quickly, remarking that they fit better ; and then
taking a long piece of tape he quickly ties and binds
these two slates. He now places them on the sitter's
lap. Taking a small piece of chalk or slate pencil
which he has apparently forgotten, he slips the top
slate at one corner slightly to one side, and drops the
chalk into the lower slate, slipping the top one back
into position. He now asks the subject to place his
handkerchief over the slates and his hands on the
same. This employs him and keeps his attention from
the third slate on the table which now contains the
discarded flap. This slate appears to the eyes as
merely an ordinary one, although it contains this flap.
The operator now picks up this third slate, and
apparently looking for something, asks the subject,
"Where did I place the silk mufiler?'' As there
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
was no silk muffler brought out, this surprises llic
subject and takes Iiis attention ; the operator then re-
marks, "I guess I forgot it." and steps through the
folding doors to get it. He of course carries the third
w'hen out of sight
and quickly returning
:arts to wrap up
efjuests the sub-
top ol the others, and
u same. This gives the
I examine this third slate,
le operator carried it out
. Of course the message
late of the two that were
rs never have anything on
slafc u-ith the flap in it.
he drops the flap into a
with the slik muftler anc
this slate ; but changing
jcct to wrap it up, plac
then to place his palms
subject ample opportuni
and he soon forgets th
of the room for an ins
will be found on the ti
tied together, and the c
them.
By this time the subject has forgotten the little move
where the operator laid down one slate on the table,
and took the other from him, tying them together.
As I perform this trick, I usually perform it for a
company as a conjuring trick. I cause a selected word
and its definition in a dictionary held by a spectator, to
appear on the slate in chalk writing. I force the selec-
tion of the word after the slates arc tied together, and
while they arc held by a spectator.
The manner in which I do this is as follows: I first
bring from a table in the adjoining parlor a |)aL-k i.if
cards which resemble playing cards on Ibeir backs, but
they have only different ])rinli'd numbirs mi ibc f;n\'.
^ xhibit these and return them in ihu labk-.
As I do this I of cunrse exchange them tor aiitJtlu-i-
k made up of cards bearing only two immbers;
s, half of the cards bear one number, and ludC
148 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
of them another number. Let us suppose these num-
bers are 38 and 42. I arrange the pack previous to
the trick with these two numbers alternately, so that
if the pack be cut or separated at any point, the next
two cards will be cards bearing the numbers 38 and
42. I leave this pack in view on the table, and the
spectators think it the pack they have just examined.
I now return with a velvet bag on the end of a stick
or long handle, and ask some one to take from this
bag a number of small wooden discs, and to read and
call off the numbers printed on each, and then to
return them to the bag. This is done, and each is
seen to bear a different number. Now reaching this
bag to some one else, I request him to draw a single
disc from this bag and retain the same, but not to
look at it. This is done and he of course draws one
with the number on it that I desire, for the reason
that the bag on the end of the stick is double ; that is,
it has a partition in it forming two compartments.
The stick or handle is of tin japanned, and is hollow,
containing a piston operated by a spring from a win-
dow curtain roller. This piston is a wire, and it ex-
tends beyond the handle, through a seam in the top
of the cloth partition in the bag ; and this part is bent
in a half circle, the same as the sides of the upper edge
of the bag.
When I bring the bag in, I have the partition to
one side, so that the compartment containing the discs
inade up of different numbers, is open. After a spec-
tator examines a handful of discs and returns them,
I release the pressure I am exerting on the rear end
of the handle, allowing the piston to revolve; and it
thus opens the compartment wherein all the discs are
of a single number, and at the same time closes the
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTf
149
Other compartment. The person drawing the disc can
only draw the number desired, as all the discs in tliis
compartment l>ear the same number.
This number indicates the number of the correr
word on the page. I next bring forward the pack c
substituted number card;
to cut them, I next ask
top. I return the others
add up the two numbers >
the result. This sum im
tionary the third spectati
This the third spectator (
selected word indicated b
it aloud. I move my han
for a moment and appear
I direct the spectator hi
them. The effect is very
some spectator
le two left 01
I, Q.id ask him to
ected cards and give
>irh page in the dic-
ds it, shall select.
r e then coiuits to the
selected disc, and reads
iteriously over the slates
n intently, after which
,g the slates to examine
irtling. The paraphernalia
for this trick can be obtained from any of the con-
juring depots.
I will here describe how to prepare the slates for this
experiment. I go to a store with a good supply of
slates, take a piece of stiff pastepoard and cut it to (it
nicely into the bevel of the frame of some good slate
which I wish to use. I then try this pasteboard flap
in other slates until I find one in which this flap fits
nicely on either side of the slate. I lay (his one aside
for my purpose and select another, making tbrt'c that
have frames which are uniform iu size on boili sides,
and which are all the same in size, measuring witliiii the
bevel of the frames. These frames should also be per-
fectly square at the comers inside tlit- hcvfl .\s iJie
s in stock vary in size, this cari'ful sL'Icctinn is
ssary. I use slates Sfvcn by nirn.- inchi'S inside the
150 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
bevel for this trick, which is the most suitable size.
I also select slates with true or level surfaces.
I next select a slate with a true surface, but as thin
as possible. I use the slate in this to make the loose
slate flap. I mark the slate portion around next the
frame with a knife, then saw away the frame. I next
take a saw such as is used in sawing metal, and saw
away the edges of the flap at the marks I have made.
I now try this flap in one of the slates; and if it be
too tight, I remedy by use of a file. I also bevel the
edges of this flap for a half inch, so that when it is
placed in the frame of one of the slates, the slate will
appear nearly natural by showing some of the bevel
of the frame on that side.
It is quite necessary to select slates with as deep a
bevel to the frames as possible ; and if the flap be too
thick, it is necessary to grind it thinner with a stone,
and then smooth up with a smooth stone or a block
and some fine powder.
I prefer padded slates, but select* those on which the
cloth binding is not too wide ; as I desire the slates to
rest closely together when I turn them, so that the
flap will not have to fall far; and so it will be more
certain to fall within the frame of the lower slate.
IX.
I will here describe another trick, where only a
double or hinged slate is used. I will give the ex-
planation and eflFect both together. I select for this a
double or hinged slate size five by seven, and prepare
a flap to fit in one side of one of the slates. It makes
no difference whether it fit any of the other sides or
not. I bevel this flap on one side only, as but one side
of it ever shows. I paste a sheet of newspaper on the
SPIRIT sr^TE-v
NU BILLET TES
side that is not beveleJ. This must be trir 'A off
very accurately and well ghied to the flap with library
paste.
I prepare the message with a soapstone pencil or
a piece of chalk, and cover it with this flap. The slate
/ appears perfectly i
a table on which are sea
table should be large e
in two piles. One of t
paper in it which is ope
farthest from the sitter.
in front of him.
The message is on the
ihe double slate, with thi
as an ordinary slate. I )
with my fingers on the t
opposite side. The hingv.
■ subject at
le newspapers. The
these papers to be
isually has only one
jn the table. This is
ler papers are directly
ie of one of the slates of
over il, so that it appears
slate in my left hantl
.^, and my thumb on the
Ige of the slates is the
edge that is in my hand. I hold the back of my left
hand facing the sitter, who is at my right hand, seated
at the table.
I exhibit this flap side of the slate to him, calling
his attention to the fact that it is free from writing.
I also rub a dry handkerchief over it as if making this
fact doubly sure. I instantly tuni my hand exhibiting
the other side to his view, and likewise calling his
attention to the fact of its freedom from writing. I
now lay the slate flat on the new.spapcr mulcr my left
hand flap side down, just as I am holding it. As I
do this I slightly pull up my sleeves as if they annny
me, and as if this were why I have just laiil tlu' slate
down. Of course, when the slate is laid rlown in this
'tion. the flap drops instantly on the ncwsp.iinT; ami
rwards, when the slate is lifteil up. it remains on
paper. It will not be noticed at .'dl. having the
152 SPIRIT SLATE- WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
sheet of newspaper pasted to its upper surface, if the
attention of the subject is not directed to this paper,
but is kept instead on the slate as it is being handled.
I instantly remark, "Of course, you desire to see the
inside of these slates also"; and suiting the action to
the word, I carelessly lift the upper slate with my left
hand, grasping it by the edge nearest the spectator.
This is the edge opposite the cloth hinge; so as I lift
this edge up, the slates assume a vertical position,
opening out and hanging suspended below my hand.
The insides of the two slates are thus exposed to the
view of the subject, and are seen to be free from
writing. I take my right hand and quickly grasp the
lower slate, closing it up under the upper one, which
at the same time I lower to a horizontal positon.
This folds the two slates together or closes them, by
folding in the direction away from the sitter; so that
what were before the inside surfaces of the slates are
now the outside, and the hinged edge now faces the
subject. The message is now inside the slates on the
upper surface of the lower one.
I now grasp both slates with my left hand, and I
take a rubber band froaa my pocket with my right hand
and quickly snap it around them. I give the slates to
the spectator and say, "Place them on the table with
your palms on them. I will remove these papers which
are in the way." As I say this I lift the pile of papers
from in front of him ; and as he places the slate on the
table, I place these papers on top of the other pap>er on
which rests the invisible flap. I lift this paper up now
with the others, and take them all including the dis-
carded flap, and quickly remove them from view.
Meanwhile I instruct the sitter how to hold his
palms, and I instantly return and direct the seance.
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. I53
In due time he finds the message. This trick is ex-
cellent if worked carefully and not too slowly. If used
in the daylight, too strong a light should be avoided ;
although I have no trouble anywhere, because I al-
ways keep absolute control of the subject's attention,
which is the most vital part of any trick.
X.
I will next describe a trick known to the "profes-
sion" as "Independent Paper Writing." A number of
small tablets of scratch paper are brought out. The
size that I generally use is about four by five inches.
The subject is requested to select a sheet of paper from
any of the tablets, which he does. Meanwhile the
operator brings to the table two slates about the size
of seven by nine inches inside measure.
The operator requests the subject to place his sheet
of paper on one of the slates, which he does. There
is no writing on the slates, which fact the subject can
see. The other slate is now placed on top of the one
with the sheet of blank paper. The cd^es of the slates
are made even, and the slates held for a time on the
head of the medium in view of the sitter. In due time
the slates are separated and the pai)cr is found to be
covered with a message on both sides. The writing
is in pencil or ink acconlini^ to the |)leasure of the
operator.
If the subject has previously been induced to write
his questions and retain the same, this niessa.t;c an-
swers them in detail and is signed hy (lie name of the
spirit to whom they were addressed.
There are many means of sceuriuL,^ knowledge of
questions written secretly. Some (»f the best I am un-
able to give in tliis work, as I am under a contract with
154 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
the dealer from whom I purchased the same to main-
tain secrecy in regard to the method. Any of the
means previously given may be used if the performer
desire. Farther on, however, I will give some addi-
tional information on the subject.
I will now explain the slate part of the "Independent
Paper Writing'." The slates are selected from bound
slates, just as the three slates were selected for the
first "flap slate" trick. One of these contains a flap,
but it is not a slate flap. It is what is known as a
"silicate slate flap." These are very light and about as
thick as pasteboard. Procured from some dealers they
are a little too dark to exactly match the slate in color,
but I have generally been able to procure exactly the
proper shade from George L. Williams & Co., 7145
Champlain Ave.. Chicago, 111.
In the prepared slate which I lay upon the table, and
upon which the subject is to place the blank sheet of
paper, is a similar sheet of paper under the flap. The
message is, of course, written on this paper in advance.
As the flap is over it, nothing can be seen and the slate
appears merely as an ordinary one. Most generally I
take the sheet of paper from my subject with the tips
of my fingers and place it on this slate. I then lay the
other slate, which I exhibit to the spectator, on top of
this one. I even up the edges, and then grasp the two
slates by their edges tightly and bring them on top of
my head for a time. This move naturally turns the
slates over, and of course the flap drops quietly into the
lower slate. Meanwhile I address the subject in the
proper manner: and when I take the slates down,
lowering them to the table, I leave the slate that is
next my head underneath the other one. I lift off the
top slate and hand the subject the slip of paper, which
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. 1 55
he sees at the first glance is covered with writing. The
effect is very great.
The subject immediately begins to read the message
with such interest, that I have ample opportunity to
take the slate containing the flap in my left hand, and
while the subject reads the message aloud (which I
direct him to do), I step through a door to a drawer
to get some article ; and, of course, I drop the flap and
concealed slip of blank paper into the drawer, but keep
the slate still in my hand as I return to the subject.
I then lay this slate on the table while I inspect the
message.
This is really one of the most effective tricks and is
very easy to perform. The operator should select slates
that are well matched and should procure a flap of the
desired color. The flaps are very cheap.
Sometimes I tear a comer from the slip of paper
containing the message. When I do this I conceal it
between the ends of my fingers ; and when the subject
gives me his selected sheet of paper. I tear a similar
comer from it. I apparently hand this last comer to
the subject with the request that he retain it. Of
course, I give him the corner which was torn from the
message slip instead and conceal the last corner torn
off in its place.
After the message is prochiced and read, I r
the subject to see if this corner fits his slip of
Worked as a conjuring trick, tliis last effect ad<
improvement to the trick ; but I am not sure
adds to the effect if given as a genuine phenc
for tearing off the corner reminds one of cc
tricks, and thus suggests the idea of trickery.
However, I generally tear off this small come
on one side of it, there is a portion of one of tt
156 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
of the message. In this case, instead of giving" this
corner to the subject to hold, I lay it on the table,
writing side down, and request him to place his finger
on it. Finding a part of one of the words on this
comer gives the idea that this writing was done while
he held it. This adds more mystery to the effect.
XI
The trick described here is most suitable for plat-
form production. The performer takes a single slate in
his hand and a piece of chalk in the other hand. He
exhibits one side of the slate to the audience, saying,
"Side one." As he does this he makes a large figure
"one" on that side of the slate. He then turns the
slate, and saying, "Side two," makes a large figure
"two" on that side of the slate. He next steps to a
chair or table, and taking a damp cloth, washes off
first one side and then the other. He immediately sets
the slate in full view of the spectators in a vertical
position, so that one side faces the spectators and the
other side is of course hidden from view. He leans
it against any object that may be convenient, usually
against a chair or table leg with one edge resting on
the floor. In a short time he lifts the slate, exhibiting
the rear surface on which is written a message in chalk
writing.
The secret of this trick is again a slate flap. The
message is prepared and the flap in place. The per-
former grasps the slate so as to hold the flap in posi-
tion, and exhibits and marks the two sides of the slate.
He now steps to a table or chair to get a piece of damp
cloth ; and as he washes "side one" of the slate, he rests
the lower edge of the slate on the table or chair. As he
does this he tilts the slate backwards slightly. He next
SPIRIT SLATE- WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. 1 57
turns the slate so that "side two" faces the audience ;
and as he washes this side, he releases his hold on the
flap on the rear of the slate, and allows it to drop on
the table or chair.
If a chair be used, a newspaper is in place spread out
on its seat; and a piece of newspaper is also pasted
on what will be the upper side of the flap after it be
dropped on the newspaper. If instead of a chair a
table be used, and if it have a dark or slate colored
cover, no newspaper need be used on either the table
or flap. However, the newspaper can be used when
using a table if the performer so desire, or the slate
can first be cleaned and then taken to the paper to be
wrapped up. In this case, the performer merely places
the slate on the newspaper, flap side down, remarking
that he will wrap it up; then as if suddenly changing
his mind, he remarks, "No. I will stand it here where
you can all watch it, instead." He then places the slate
in the vertical position before described ; but of course
uses care not to expose the rear side of the slate con-
taining the message.
Some performers prefer to have the table top cov-
ered with velvet or felt, and a piece of the same mate-
rial glued on what will be the upper surface of the flap
after it is dropped on the table.
This trick makes an excellent conjnrinj^ trick, if a
single word in a book be chosen and then made to
appear on the slate in chalk writini^'-. In this case 1 first
prepare the slate, and after lhoroui^lil\ wasliinq; both
sides, place it on the ])latform as I have descril)e(l.
I now take two books not ahke. and descend to the
audience, giving one of them to some si)eclator to
hold. Next I give a card to a second sju'ctator and
ask him to insert it in the end of the remaining book
158 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
which I Still hold. I ask him to let it protrude from
between the leaves about a half inch. I tell him to
place it between any of the leaves he may desire.
When he has done so I step to another spectator and
request him to open the book at the position occupied
by the card, and to call aloud the page that it marks.
I step to this third spectator, a slight distance aw^ay,
and before I reach him I ask him if he will assist me.
As I ask this I start towards him. All eves are turned
towards him as I direct my attention to him, and of
course at this instant I turn the book in my hands end
for end. In the other end of the book a duplicate card
has previously been placed at the page I desire ; and as
I approach him, my fingers secretly press the second
spectator's card entirely into the book. The third spec-
tator, of course, opens the book at the position marked
by the duplicate card.
As soon as he reads aloud the number of the selected
page on his right (which I request him to do) I ask
the spectator holding the other book to open it at the
page chosen, and to read aloud the bottom word, which
is of course the word prepared on the rear of the slate.
If the performer can procure a book which somewhere
within it has two consecutive pages on which the bot-
tom words are the same, he can have some spectator
choose whether the page selected shall be the right
one or the left one. This choice should be made be-
fore the book containing the cards is opened.
If such a book can not be procured, then the ope-
rator can simply ask the spectator opening the first
book to read aloud the page number on his right. He
should then turn to the person holding the second book
and request him to turn to that page and read aloud the
bottom word. As soon as the word is read aloud, the
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. 1 50
performer takes both books, runs to the stage, and
turning over the slate exhibits the word. The slate is
passed down for inspection.
^^ ^^ ^^
Another method can be used for forcing the choice
of, say, the right page, of the two pages where the du-
plicate card is located. When the third spectator opens
the book at the card, the performer turns to another
spectator and asks, "Which page will yoii take, the
right or left?*' If the spectator choose the right page,
the performer directs the person holding the book to
read aloud this page number. If, however, the person
should take the left page, the performer then remarks
in a natural manner to the person holding the book,
"He chooses the left, so yon will have to choose the
right." This seems perfectly natural to the audience,
and the person holding the book is then directed to
read aloud the number of "his page."
If the operator prefer, he can, when the spectator
first opens the book, stand directly in front of him and
grasp the two sides of the book with his two hands.
He can then ask, "Which shall I take, the rif^ht or left
page?" If some one replies, "The rijj^ht," the operator
asks the person holding the hmk to read aloud the
number of the page on his rii^lit ; but if tlu' kfi be
chosen, the operator says, "Read aloud the pai^c uuui-
ber on my left." In either case the i)a,L;e is I he sanu-.
If when asking the questiou, "Which shall I lakt'. the
right or left page?" the operator einphasi/e the word
"right" slightly, and then j)ause a mere iii>lant hr t'*»re
rapidly continuing the (juestion, the *'ri-hl" will almost
invariably be chosen.
I consider this slate trick as the hc-st one for staire
work that I have seen. It is very simj)le. and the
l6o SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
simplest tricks are always the best and most difficult
of detection. After the message is produced and the
slate sent out for inspection, the operator piles some
unused articles on the discarded flap and removes all
together.
One operator, when performing this trick in a par-
lor, previously takes from the shelves of the library
some new book that has never been opened, and of the
style that opens rather stiffly. He selects the page he
desires, and proceeds to open the book up widely at
this page. After this, the book will naturally open at
this place. He is careful not to open it widely else-
where.
He now selects two playing cards from duplicate
packs, the cards being duplicates of each other, and
places one secretly in this book where it has been
opened. When ready to perform, he takes one of the
packs of cards, and takes a card from it apparently
at random. This card is really the duplicate of the
one in the book. The performer gives this card to a
spectator, and asks him to push it into the book be-
tween the leaves at any position he may select, pushing
it entirely out of sight. This is done. Now without
any change whatever the performer presents this book
to a second spectator to open at the card and call out
the page. As he does this the book naturally falls open
at the place where the first card was concealed, and
where the glue used in binding the book has been
broken. The card being there, and being apparently
a mere playing card selected at random from a pack,
lends a color of genuineness to the performance.
Another operator, when performing this slate tricky
causes the sum of a number of figures to appear on
the slate instead of a word or message. He accoro-
i
r SL.\TE-\VRITING AND BILLET TEST
plishcs this as follows: He writes a horizontal row
of three figures on the front fly leaf of some book.
Under this row of three figures he writes in different
hands, two or three other rows and draws a line below
them as if ready to add them up.
When performing, he
it at the back fly leaf, h
a horizontal row of thre
own choice. When ihi
and in the same mannt
three figures imder th<
there are as many hor
has prepared on the fro
He now requests the t i
all of the figures; and tl
it to still another spectai
the figures carefully ant
'his book; and opening
s a spectator to write
s, each figure to be his
ne he takes the hook,
another spectator write
He continnes this until
at rows of figures as lie
iy leaf.
writer to draw a line under
I, taking the book, he passes
with a request that he add
mounce their sum verbally.
Of course, when he gi\..a this book to the last spec-
tator he opens it at the front fly leaf, (having pre-
\-iously allowed the book to close), ami the last s]>ec-
tator adds up the figures written by the operator and
whose sum is on the prepared slate.
Some performers produce this same result by having
the spectators wrile on a card, and then exchanging the
card : but the method with the book is the better, as it is
perfectly evident that the book is not exchanjifcil, This
adds to the after efifect of the trick.
I am acquainted with a perfnriufr wlm
slates instead of one when perfnnnin^; ihis i
first cleans the unprepared slalc on hmli hiili'^
the spectators that both sides art- clean. 1 li- i
this slate to a spectator to lioUl. ilr n. \|
date containing the flap, resting one edge >•
■s I wo
.-. I ie
lowing
l62 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
paper spread on a table while he washes each side.
Of course, he allows the flap to drop onto the paper
from behind the slate while cleaning the second side
of the slate. Having newspaper pasted on one side
of the flap as before stated, it can not be seen when on
the paper.
He immediately advances to the spectator who holds
the first slate, and says, "I will tie them together."
As he does this he carries the slate with the message
writing side down, so that no one can see it; and
quickly placing this slate on top of the other one, he
ties the two together and leaves them in the possession
of the spectator to be held.
I know of another performer who uses three slates
in this trick and gets an answer to a question which
some one asks aloud. Certain words in the answer are
written in colors such as the spectator may choose.
His assistant behind the scenes has the third slate with
the flap ; and when the operator gets some spectator to
ask the question, the assistant immediately writes the
answer and lays the flap over it. The operator at the
time asks some spectator to designate which words in
the answer shall be in certain colors, and if the fifth,
seventh, etc., be chosen, the assistant writes these
words with colored crayons.
The assistant now, after laying the flap over the
message, places the slate between the leaves of a news-
paper, flap side up. This paper he quietly lays upon a
table on the stage unobserved. While this is being
done, the performer has taken the two unprepared
slates down to the spectators and had them thoroughly
examined. This has taken the attention of the spec-
tators so that no one has observed the assistant enter
and leave the stage.
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. 163
The Operator now returns to the stage ; and stepping
to this table, he lays one slate on the table behind the
paper and starts to place the edge of his other slate
on the front part of the table while he numbers and
cleans the sides. The newspaper appears to be in his
way; so with his left hand he draws it backwards on
the table over the first slate laid down ; and then, rest-
ing the other slate on the table, numbers its two sides
with a piece of chalk. He now cleans both sides thor-
oughly and stands this slate edgewise on the floor
against a chair. He next apparently draws from under
the newspaper on the table the other slate. In reality,
he draws out the prepared slate with the flap in posi-
tion from between the leaves of the newspaper.
He now numbers both sides of this slate, standing
it edgewise on the newspaper and showing each side
as he does so. He next cleans the flap side thoroughly,
and then turns the slate to clean the other side, and
while so doing allows the flap to fall from behind the
slate upon the newspaper.
As soon as the second or unprepared side is clean,
the operator places this slate in front of the one on the
floor and lifts both together, ties them securely, and
passes them to the audience to be held for a time. In
due time the spectators untie them, findin.c: the message
answering the spoken question. The (lesic:nated words
are in the chosen colors which makes the effect verv
great.
The credit for the invention of lliis last method be-
longs to a magician, Mr. l-^dward r>ene(lict of Min-
neapolis, Minnesota.
164 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
XII.
I Will here describe a few methods of obtaining a
name or a question which is written by a sitter, and
where the sitter usually retains the writing in his own
possession. The first that I will describe is the most
improved method known at present, and is almost uni-
versally used by the professional mediums traveling
over the country.
The idea is to get an impression of the writing that
is not a carbon impression. The impression is, in fact,
invisible until after it is "developed.'* The paper used
is a thin, highly glazed paper. A tablet of this paper
is provided for the subject to write upon. He can
make an inspection of the tablet if he so desire, and
he will find nothing. The operator first prepares a
few sheets of the paper by nibbing over one side of
them with wax. Some mediums use paraffin wax,
which has been melted and mixed with a small amount
of vaseline. If this wax be used, it must be kneaded
with the hands while cooling and afterwards pressed
into cakes. I prefer to use "spermaceti" wax. The
wax being white, can not be seen on the paper after
the same has been coated with it.
The sheet must be laid on a flat, smooth surface
and thoroughly rubbed over with the wax. This pre-
pared sheet is generally placed in the tablet two or
three sheets below the top, coated side down. It should
be held in place with library paste; and another pre-
pared sheet should be similarly placed a little further
down, to be used in case emergency demands it.
When the writing is done, an invisible impression
of it is transferred from the waxed surface of the
prepared sheet, to the sheet next under it. Of course
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITINT AND BILLET TESTS. 165
I this can not be seen imti! developed, as t)ic wax is very
I ihin and is the color of the paper, .\fter the subject
^ writes his questions, and removes the sheet bearing
r them, the operator secures this tablet bv almost any
f secret means; and then he spcretly removes liic sheet
bearing the impression 3 velops it. This is most
generally done by throv in the sheet some pow-
dered charcoal, and sh;
the powder adheres to t
plus powder is dusted ofi
and may be easily read.
lampblack, or en;
the sheet aroiuid until
'.X. after which the sur-
! writing appears plainly
ome perfonners use plura-
diist instead of charcoal.
Many different powders may be used. The magician
Mr. Edward Benedict mt ;Iy holds the wax impression
over a lighted gas jet ..lOving it about. The flame
blackens the wax portion which melts and dampens
the paper where it adheres. If a little camphor be
held in the flame it will blacken the impression more
completely.
When this trick is used at private readings in apart-
ments, the operator after the writing usually leails the
sitter into the next room for a reading. Meanwhile an
assistant secretly secures the tablet and leaves another
in its place that is unprepared. Generally the door be-
tween the two rooms is left open : and il is only neces-
sary for the operator to engage the sitter fi <r a moment,
lo give opportunity to the assistant tn make the ex-
change, which can be made in many dilTcn-ni ways.
After the assistant has time
■ to devel
op the w
rilinyf. the
operator leaves the room fo
r a iiionu
■nl on sii,
!iL' trilling
errand and of course secnn
uniKili'^ii
wliileout
of the room.
Sometimes the operator
pmduL-c
■s ;i ^l;Uc
■ uK'ssnffe
or the subject; and then \
.vhilc the
subject i
s inspect-
l66 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
ing it secretly exchanges tablets from a large pocket
in his coat. When this method is used, the operator
generally pretends to hear some one at his outside
door; and as his servant fails to respond, he excuses
himself for a moment, and taking advantage of his ab-
sence, develops and reads the writing.
^^ ^^ ^^
I am indebted to an accomplished magician, Mr.
Gabriel Rasgorshek, for the secret of an excellent
means of working this trick. It is being successfully
worked by an expert medium at the present time, and
Mr. Rasgorshek is thoroughly informed as to the
means employed.
The medium g^ves his readings in a large store
room. He curtains off the room into three apartments,
making a large reception room in front, a middle or
waiting room, and a third room in the rear where is
concealed an assistant unknown to all callers. He uses
a twelve- foot cabinet in the center of the rear of the
middle room, directly against the rear cross curtain.
The cabinet is merely formed of curtains, and is di-
vided into two compartments by a curtain partition.
In one of the compartments of the cabinet is a table,
a prepared tablet and pencils. This is the room into
which each sitter is invited by an attendant, to write
out and prepare his questions, signing his name to
them. In the large middle or waiting room near the
walls are seats for callers, and one caller at a time is
invited to enter the solitary room in the cabinet and
prepare his questions. The other room in the cabinet
has a table near the back curtain, with a chair on each
side of it. In this latter room, on one side of the table
the medium is seated, giving the readings, slate writ-
ings, etc.
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
167
tions. names, etc. : copii
and also adds to them
city directory ; then pi
copy in a clcfl in the ei
a small slit in the back 1
cabinet. This slit is li
the cabinet just by t!
table. The subject is b
of the table receiving
The concealed assistant in the rear of the apartments
secretly reaches through the cabinet curtain into the
room where the tablet has just been used, and removes
it, leaving another prepared tablet in its place for the
next subject. He now develops and reads the qnes-
1 neatly on a smai! card
lalion secured from the
the card containing the
1 stick, pushes it through
am of the other room in the
ed so that the stick enters
medium's hand behind the
lis time on the opposite side
,.; reading, and the medium
secretly reads the infc Tnation. The medium has a
strong electric light b ck of him which makes this
quite easy. The man in the rear apartment must be
as expert as the medium, and he can by a careful
search of the directory, and by a reference to notes
of other readings given to other callers, frequently
push much information into the view of the medium.
Meanwhile another subject has been invited into the
other room in the cabinet to ]>repare his questions.
There is also a small cloth tube on the side of the
table next the medium's hand. This tube runs through
the rear curtain. In case some one has become unduly
excited over a reading, and has prepared questions at
home and returned for a second reading, ihc medium
takes them in his hand for a moment, fingering them.
He keeps on hand a number of folded billets nf differ-
ent styles; so that when ho sees the on<.'« the subject
he can secretly secure duplicates in his palm.
m he fingers the subject's billets, he adroitly ex-
nges them for his own. and apparently places the
l68 SPIRIT SLATE- WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
subject's billets in a book on the table. In reality he
places the substitutes in the book, "palming" the or-
iginals, which he sends through the cloth tube to the
assistant. Very soon they are returned to the hand
of the medium under the table. He now takes the
billets from the book, apparently returning them to the
sitter, but really again substituting, so that the originals
are returned to the sitter. He conceals the duplicates ;
and by this time the information begins to come into
his view beneath the table, and^the reading becomes
very eflfective.
There is a means of developing the wax impression
that I consider superior to the methods given above ;
but I am restrained from making it public by a prom-
ise of secrecy to the dealer from whom I purchased
the secret. It can be obtained of George L. Williams
& Co., 7145 Champlain Avenue, Chicago, 111. The
method given here, however, works very well, and is
the one generally used by most mediums; this secret
has become common property among mediums and has
even been published before. In the chapter entitled,
"Performances of the Annie Eva Fay Type," I will
give some further information in regard to developing
these impressions and the methods of using the same.
This will be of considerable value to the performer.
A magician, Mr. C. S. Welier of Mitchell, South
Dakota, has experimented considerably with different
methods of preparing impression paper and developing
the impressions. He sometimes prepares the sheets
with common cocoa butter, and sometimes he saturates
the paper with a forty per cent, solution of cream and
water, afterwards stretching the sheets in frames until
dry. These can be used on a marble-top table, the
bottom of a porcelain dish, or a marble slab. In this
SriRIT SLATE-WRITI.VG AND BILLET TESTS. l6g
case he dusts ultramarine blue on the object bearing
the impression and then blows it lightly, so that all of
the powder is blown off except that which adheres to
the impression. Any of the colored powders may be
used. Some performers place a prepared sheet on a
glass plale and another : over this for the subject
to write on. In this casi, mc impression is transferred
to the glass plate.
I am acquainted with a lady medium, who. when
she gives private readings, answers some questions for
each of the sitters, which they have written and re-
tained, giving them their correct names, etc. The
method she uses is very simple, yet she assures me
that it works most successfully.
This medium is working in connection with a lady
"Palmist" who always receives the visitors in the wait-
ing room. When the visitor arrives, this lady has a
book in her hands, which she has apparently just been
reading. There is no furniture in the room except
some chairs. The lady seats the visitor ; and in case
this person does not desire a "Palm Reading," she
says. "Madam B — is not quite ready tn receive vis-
itors just now ; you will have to wait a few minutes."
She then continues, "While you are waiting, just write
down the questions you wish to ask," arid she gives
. the visitor a sheet of paper and a pencil : anil as there
is no table upon which to write, she also gives this
person the book which is still in her hand.
She places the .sheet of paper on the Iwik nt ilie
XX)k and says, "Write the questions ymi desire an-
iwered on that sheet of paper and keep it. Madam
3 — prefers to have you write them ihnvn so \<>ii will
170 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
not forget them. Sign your name to them and address
them to some spirit near to you."
The subject does ds recjuested, and the lady again
tells her to "just keep her questions." She now re-
lieves the visitor of the book. She waits and con-
verses for a while, and then says, "I do not see why
Madam B — does not come. I will go and see if she
is readv." She retires to 'the other rooms, and inci-
dentally takes her book with her. She quickly returns
with a duplicate book in her hands which the visitor
thinks is the original, and says, "Madam B — is nearly
ready, and she will be out in a f^w moments." She
converses with the visitor until the medium comes in
and proceeds to give the reading, which fully answers
the questions.
The first book was a new one and had a paper cover
on the backs. Under this cover, on each back, was
a carbon sheet, with a sheet of white paper under it.
When the lady went to see if the medium were ready,
she left this book with the medium, returning quickly
with the duplicate. The medium read the impression
and committed all to memory before entering.
There are many methods of secretly securing an
impression of the writing of a sitter. Sometimes,
where no table is handy, the subject is given an ordin-
ary "clip board," such as stationers furnish for clamp-
ing bill-heads and blank papers. This consists of stiff
pasteboard and a spring clip or clamp. A sheet of
blank paper is in position held by the clip; and the
writing is transferred from a sheet of copying carbon
concealed under the mottled paper covering the inside
of the "clip board," to a sheet of white paper between it
and the board. The "clip board" is then taken secretly
by an assistant, or sometimes by the medium who ex-
I
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITIKG AND BILLET TEST
aises himself for a moment on some pretense, after
adroitly exchanging a concealed "clip board" for the
prepared one which he also conceals, A sharp knife
is then rnn under the edge of the mottled paper of the
board separating it therefrom. The carbon is removed
and the impression read r this a new blank sheet
is put on the board, tht replaced, all is neatly
covered by mottled pap is pasted in position,
and the "clip board" is : 'ady for a sitter.
The most common n the one most gen-
erally used is a bold "s oi me paper before the
eyes of the sitter, when le operator takes it to press
it against his forehead ^hen this method is used,
the medium and subject '"t at opposite sides of a table.
The writing is done oi l small card, which is then
folded two times by the bject. The medium reaches
and takes it in this condition, and presses it against his
forehead ; then returns it to the subject to press against
his own forehead for a time. Tlie operator again takes
it, and pressing it to his own forehead, gives the read-
ing.
In tW\£ method the operator has concealed in his left
palm a duplicate card folded similarly : and when he
takes the card from the subject with his right hand,
first places it in his left hand directly over tlie dupli-
cate. The back of the operator's hand is toward the
subject so that the cards are concealed from his view.
Now with a deft move of the fingers, he jjushcs for-
ward the duplicate into view, withdrawing the original,
then fingering it with his right hand he l.ikcs the dupli-
'•e and presses it to his own forehead, 1 It- next hands
s duplicate to the subject to press t" his head : and
anwhile with his left hand below the table, he se-
172 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
cretly opens and reads the question. The card can be
opened and folded silently, which is the reason cards
are used instead of paper. The original is now palmed
in the left hand, and the former maneuvers are gone
through with ag^in ; this time handing back to the
subject his own card. After this the reading is given.
There is another method of making the "switch,"
which is in very general use. In this case it is made
with one hand alone. Soft paper is used instead of
cards so that it will fold into a smaller space. Proper
paper can be opened and re-folded silently if care be
used. The slips are of a uniform size, so that when
folded they will always be of the same size. The sub-
ject is instructed how to fold them after he shall finish
his writing.
When the operator makes this "switch," he has a
duplicate piece of paper inside his right fingers, held
between the middle and first finger near the end. He
keeps the back of this hand towards the subject so that
the duplicate can not be seen : and when he picks up
from the table the paper that the subject has written
upon, he deftly draws it from the ends of his fingers
with his thumb, up into his palm beyond the (fuplicatc.
and then with his thumb pushes the duplicate into
view.
With a little practice this "switch'* can be made in
an instant, and the move will escape the subject en-
tirely. //, at the moment the operator picks up the
paper, he addresses the subject, the latter ivill invar-
iably glance into his face for an instant; just at this
moment the right hand deftly makes the "shift" and
instantly brings the duplicate into the view of the sub-
ject in a perfectly natural manner, which seems en-
SI'IKIT SLAra-WRITINC; AND BILLET TESTS. I73
lircly honest in appearance. He then proceeds with
vvlialevcr melho<l he may prefer in finishing the trick.
I will next describe two tricks depending entirely
on this "switch." They are used very extensively by
the professional medi' is of this day in the larger
cities. The second one ml\ describe is used by a num-
l)er of the most celebrated mediums of Chicago, such as
advertise with flaming head-lines in the daily papers.
In the simplest fom the operator scats the subject
at a large table, facin it, and near the right comer
of one of its sides. T re is nothing on the table but
a few slips of paper, a liible. and a bell. The subject
is instructed to write his questions, fold his paper
and lay the same on the table, and then to tap the bell
when ready.
On hearing the bell the medium enters, steps to the
table and picks up the billet, at the same instant asking
the subject if this paper contains his (juestions, name,
etc. At this instant, while the subject glances at the
medium's eyes, the "shift" is made; and the operator,
instantly, opens the Bible with his left hand, and with
his right apparently inserts the billet between the
leaves, closing the book. He, of course, inserts the
duplicate billet, retaining the origin.il in his right
palm. He now steps to the left side nf the subject,
who remains sealed at the table, He faces from the
table so that his left side is next to the left side of the
subject, and he instructs tlie latter to i)lace his hands
on the Bible. Then the medium places his left palm
on the subject's head to "establish cnndiiious" : and as
he does so he places it rather on ihc side of the head
nearest himself, and so that his palm and wrist are
opposite the left eye of the sidiject. This ))reventf
174 SPIRIT SLATE- WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
the subject from turning his face towards the medium,
or seeing what he is secretly doing.
The reader must form a good mental picture of their
positions if he desire to realize the possibilities of this
trick. The medium has his back to the table and his
left side to the left of the subject, who faces the table.
They are thus facing in opposite directions ; and while
the medium now describes his impressions to the sub-
ject he secretly opens the billet with his right hand and
reads it. His right hand is behind the range of vision
of the subject, and is also concealed from the view of
the latter by the medium's person and left hand, which
latter is pressed against the upper left side of the sub-
ject's head.
He now folds it again, placing it in position between
the ends of the first and second fingers; and turning
he opens the Bible, taking out the billet and apparently
presenting it to the subject. He asks the subject to
hold it to his own head; and of course he gives the
subject the original billet, secretly "palming" the sub-
stitute at the same time.
Next he places his hand on the subject's head, and
gives the reading, answering the subject's questions,
giving his name, etc.
♦ ♦ 4c
In the next trick, which is slightly more complicated,
five slips of paper are used. The medium addresses
the subject somewhat as follows: "You came here for
me to help you. You are in trouble, or worried about
something, else you would not be here. Now I desire
to help you if I can. I charge one dollar, and I answer
four questions. It is necessary for you to ask these
questions if you want me to be certain to answer them.
If I were to proceed of my own accord, I might give
I
SPIRIT SLATE-WfilTIXG AND BILLET TES' 1/5
you something which you would not care for; there-
fore I will ask you to write your questions on these
four slips of paper, writing only on one side of the
paper, and folding them twice with the writing inside.
On the fifth slip write your name, occupation, and ad-
dress. Now write que .ons which, if answered will
be a benefit to you, sor .ething that will do you some
good. Let one be ab^-nt business matiers, another
about love or family ma rs, etc. If you desire results
that will benefit you, wi your questions openly, giv-
ing the names of all pe sons concerned, in a straight-
forward and honest ma Er. When they are written,
folded, and all is read; lap the bell." The medium
now retires until he hears the bell.
The subject invariably complies with all conditions.
When the operator enters, he immediately takes the
billets, one at a time, as they lie on the table, and
crimps or folds them an additional time. He does this
hurriedly, as if he desires them to be very securely
folded. Of course he "switches" the last one, leaving
a "dummy" in its place, and secretly retaining the or-
iginal in his right palm.
He now takes the same position as in the previous
trick, with his back to the table, left side to the left side
of the sitter, band on the sitter's head, etc. He then
asks the subject to "make a wish" while he is "estab-
lishing conditions." While the subject is thinking of
a wish, the medium secretly opens the billet with his
right hand, reading and re-folding it as in line other
trick. He now'temarks, "Have you made a wish?"
On being answered in the affirmative, he replies. "That
wish will not be entirely fulfilled." He now turns.
and picking up one of the billets, apparently hamls it
to the subject, requesting him to hold it to his own
17^ SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
head. Of course he changes the billets again, hand-
ing the subject the one he has just secretly read, and
retaining in his palm the new one. He requests the
subject to hold it to his own head with one hand, and
to lay his other hand on the Bible.
The medium now places his palm on the side of the
subject's head as in the preceding trick, and with his
right hand secretly opens and reads the second billet,
memorizing it. As he does this he is verbally answering
the question on the first billet, which the subject is now
holding to his head. If the first question was, "Shall I
make a certain investment in mining stocks, etc.," the
medium says, "I see you contemplate investing in
mines, etc., etc. This will not prove a profitable in-
vestment ; vou should by no means do this. I see
there is another opportunity coming to you for an
investment, that will be much safer, etc., etc. Now,
sir, open the question you are holding to your fore-
head, and see if I have answered it correctly."
Meanwhile the medium has secretly read the second
question, and the billet bearing it is in position between
his fingers. Pie now picks up another billet apparently
giving it to the subject to hold as in the first case. Of
course he gives the subject the second one which he
has just secretly read, and retains in his palm the new
one. While he answers the second question, which
may pertain to love or family aflfairs, he again secretly
reads the question in his right palm.
After answering the question, the subject is directed
to open his billet and see if it be correctly answered ;
and the medium turns and picks up another one, ap-
parently presenting it to him. This is continued until
all of the questions are answered, and the subject's
name, occupation, etc., given.
SPIUT SLAtC-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. \^^
At the last billet, which is the "dummy," the medium
again makes the "shift/' retaining the dummy and
giving the subject the last genuine billet. This time he
leaves the side of the subject, and answers the question
correctly without contact with him. This trick is very
effective and gives the greatest satisfaction to the
medium's patrons.
♦ ♦ ♦
There are so many methods of gaining knowledge
of what a sitter secretly writes that it is impossible to
give them all here. It is safe to say that in any case
where the subject is required to write anything, that
there is always a secret means of gaining knowledge of
the writing. In such cases no information is ever
given except such as could be inferred from the writ-
ing, or such as can be given by shrewd guesswork.
I know one medium who wears a skull cap when
giving a reading. It is made of black silk : and in the
top of it, held in place by a lining of oil cloth, is a
sponge saturated with odorless alcohol. The subject
writes his questions on a card and seals it in an enve-
lope. The medium and spectator sit at opposite sides
of a table, and the operator now takes the envelope,
and presses it on top of his head directly over the
hidden sponge. The alcohol renders the envelope
transparent; and after a moment the medium brings
the envelope in front of his eyes, with its ii])])er edge
resting against his forehead, and there reads the ques-
tion. He is near-sighted and this is (|uite easy for him.
He holds it in this position while he talks to the
subject, until the alcohol evaporates and the envelope
assumes its natural appearance. He then gives the
reading and returns the envelope un<^|)ened. This is
a very impresssive trick. The use of odorless alcohol
178 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
for such purpose is well known in some quarters, but
I think this method of using it is not generally known
at present. The envelope never leaves the sitter's sight
and the experiment appears very marvelous.
Other means of securing information from writing
are sometimes adopted, but they are complicated and
in some cases require a very expert operator. Dr.
Schlossenger referred to elsewhere in this volume
seemed to be able to so manipulate his subjects as to
secure much information from the writing in the
most concealed manner ever known. I merely men-
tion this that the reader may be on his guard in any
case where the subject writes anything whatever, and
where the operator claims to secure knowledge of
such writing through the assistance of spirits of the
dead.
XIII.
I will here describe a few slate tricks wherein the
subject takes his own slates (usually marked) with
him. In the first case I am about to describe, the
medium is supposed to be in his own home where
things can be arranged for the business. The subject
comes with two slates either tied, screwed together,
or with merely a single slate.
In this instance the medium does not even look at
the slates which the sitter brings. He merely directs the
subject to lay the slates well under a rather large and
heavy library or center table. This table has a large
heavy cover or drape. When the subject does this
he is directed to take a seat at this table and place
his palms thereon.
The medium usually stands and places his palms on
the opposite side of the table, and for a time interests
' SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS
the subject in conversation. During this time an as-
sistant in a low room under the floor silently pushes
up a small and well -concealed trap in the floor and
carpet. This trap is directly under the table, the carpet
is cut very neatly over the cuts in the floor, and is left
tacked in position. He ikes the slates inside with
him leaving others of tl saiue appearance in their
place. As soon as the lessage is readv he again
changes the slates and hcn s the trap shut from under-
neath so it will be solid. the carpet is tacked along
the cut, there is no dan, of the sitter discovering
anything of the kind, si- d such an idea enter his
head.
There is a variation of this trick that is far superior
to it. In this case the medium takes the subject into
a very light room, bare of blinds, carpet, and furniture.
except a curtain cabinet across a corner ; a small simple
table is in the cabinet, and two chairs are in the room
near the only door.
The walls and ceiling are papered, and the floor can
be seen so easily, that any one thinking of such an
idea could plainly see that there are no traps in it. It
can also be seen that there are none in walls or base-
board, which in this room is too narrow to admit a per-
son through any trap which might be concealed in it.
The table and cabinet are thoroughly inspected, and
then the subjecl lays his own slates on the table in the
cabinet and draws the curtains. He takes a scat with
the medium near the door, and after a time goes into
the cabinet and examines his luarked slates. They
are covered with messages both inside and ontsiile.
The eiTect of this is simply beyond description. It is
xomplished in a verj- simple manner. The secret is
trap in the ceiling which is masked by a heavy dark
l8o SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
border of the ceiling paper. It is hooked up solidly by
a strong hook opposite its hinges, and the curtains of
the cabinet extend too high for its operation to be seen
from outside the cabinet. The celling is too high to
be inspected by the subject, and in fact he never thinks
of it. An assistant from the room above opens the trap,
which is padded, and reaching down a long rod with
a grip on the end of it, draws up the slates and pre-
pares them.
It adds to the effect if the medium have a music
box in the room, which plays during the wait. This
also hides any noises. This is the same trap that a
noted medium of San Francisco has used for mate-
rializing. He has many assistants and much parapher-
nalia. The "spirits" descend and ascend on a padded
ladder which is slipped down from above. The me-
dium to whom I refer is probably the greatest in the
world at materializing: and his assistants are so good
at "making up/' that any noted character can be "ma-
terialized" in a few moments.
When this trap is used for slate writing, and if the
subject comes with a single slate, it is sometimes placed
in a shallow box and the box locked and sealed. The
box is of wood, is about an inch thick and just large
enough to take in a slate. There is a secret sliding
panel in the box which can be slipped out by the assist-
ant to permit the writing. If no panel is used then a
slate pencil is inserted within the box on the slate be-
fore locking. The pencil is made as follows: A round
piece of soft iron is coated with powdered chalk or pul-
verized slate pencil mixed in a little glue. In this case
the writing is done by manipulating a powerful magnet
on the outside of the box. The soft iron core of the
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. l8l
pencil is drawn by the magnet, making the marks with
its outside coating.
if * *
At one time a marvelous medium appeared in a
neighboring city, giving slate writings in so mysterious
a manner that it caused considerable talk and discus-
sion among the thinking men of that community. A
certain reporter called for a slate writing and was
greatly mystified.
This reporter took his own slate with him, which
he marked. The medium merely placed it on the floor
in the room where they sat, and it never left the sight
of the reporter ; yet after a time it was examined and
a message found thereon.
The medium then stated to this reporter that he
would forfeit twenty-five dollars if he could not pro-
duce a message for any individual whatever without
the slate (which said person could bring with him)
leaving that individual's sight.
This was a pretty bold challenge : so the reporter
decided to take a certain gentleman who was a friend
of his, and by-the-way an expert magician, to this
medium for a slate writing. The gentleman selected
was Dr. A. M. Wilson of Kansas City, Mo., editor of
the magician's journal. The Sphinx, and to whom
am indebted for the secret of this impressive trick.
Dr. Wilson purchased and took a slate with hii
which he marked. On his arrival the nicdimn insist
on taking the slate and layinj^^ it on the floor. 1
Doctor did not object to this, as he felt sure that
medium would be unable to divert his attention fi
the slate for a sinj^le instant. I will mention th
large piece of furniture — a kind of wardrobe — s
against the wall on the side of the room to the If
l82 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
the Doctor. There was also, between the Doctor and
the near side of this wardrobe, a large upholstered
chair which partly concealed from his view a portion
of the lower part of the wardrobe.
The medium laid the slate on the floor a little dis-
tance in front of this wardrobe and then began a rapid
discourse to the Doctor on spiritual science. He grew
very excited and kept pacing the floor, advancing to a
position near the Doctor and then returning to the far
end of the room. As he made these pilgrimages up
and down the room, he came near stepping on the slate
as it lay in his way; so with his foot he pushed it
slightly toward the wardrobe at each journey. Mean-
while he seemed to forget about the slate so intent was
he on his lecture.
Had he been able to control the attention of the Doc-
tor so as to *'hold his eye" when secretly shoving the
slate with his foot, as he would have been able to do
with ordinary persons, all would have gone well. The
Doctor, however, was not so interested in the lecture
as he was in the slate : and he saw it gradually worked
nearer to the wardrobe at each excursion of the me-
dium, until it was partly under this- piece of furniture.
The Doctor now interposed and remarked to the
medium that this performance had gone far enough:
that his challenge was to produce a message without
the slate leaving his sight, and that the slate was now
nearly out of view. The medium grew very angry
and stormed at the Doctor, but all to no avail. Finally
the Doctor said to him that he himself was a magician
and a performer of such tricks ; that he did not intend
exposing him, so that he might just as well confess.
The medium hesitated a moment and then, laughing,
said "Boys, you are too much for me. I own up." He
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. 183
then conducted them to the room adjoining theirs,
where sat the medium's assistant waiting to perform
his part of the trick. A small slot had been cut through
the base-board adjoining the floor. This slot was
directly underneath the wardrobe in the adjoining
room. The assistant had an old-fashioned "soot
scraper" such as is used for cleaning out the bottom
of the old-time cooking stoves. With this useful article
his task was to reach through the slot and draw or
scrape the slate through the slot in the wall, and shove
a duplicate into view while he wrote the message.
When this was finished he drew back the duplicate and
pushed the original slate into view.
When this was all over, the medium, finishing his
discourse, would be suddenly reminded of the slate,
look for it, and see it just out from under the ward-
robe ; then lifting it from the floor he would triumph-
antly hand it with its message to the sitter. The busi-
ness was quite lucrative.
At another time a wonderful medium appeared m
the ^same city and gave psychometric tests in a public
hall to those bwnging articles with them. The test
were very marvelous, and the medium carried av
thousands of dollars.
All of this information was furnished to the me<
by two prominent gentlemen in Kansas City, who '
nearly every one who attended spiritualist mee
One of these gentlemen received a very fine tesi
the medium, looking at him. said, 'TJid I ever 5
before?" And the j^^entlcnian said. "You di
Now, Dr. Wilson happened to know that at '
the mediurh was actually stopping at the horn
gentleman, who feigned that he was a total
to the medium.
l84 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
Much of the work of mediums is performed in an
impromptu or extempore manner. They must be fa-
miliar with the various tricks, but can not invariably
follow any fixed rule. They must perform one way
for one subject, and maybe in a wholly different man-
ner for another. I can not better illustrate the extem-
poraneous nature of their work, than by describing
two slate writings given by a professional medium
whom I know.
Mediums are continually working for what they
term "cases." This is where the medium exerts his
spiritual influence in behalf of the subject in some
matter, and for which he receives usually a goodly
sum. Most ardent believers have some matter wherein
they need assistance; and they usually employ a me-
dium, if he impresses them properly, and if they believe
implicitly in his powers.
There was an elderly gentleman who had repeatedly
received slate writings from this medium, but never on
slates of his own. The medium had been prevailing
on this elderly gentleman to give him his "case,'' but
the gentleman had no means of his own. He could
only secure the necessary sum of money from his son-
in-law, and the latter refused to let him have it, saying
that all mediums were fraudulent ; and that he would
never advance the funds, unless the gentleman should
secure a slate writing on his own slates.
Of this the gentleman informed the medium, and he
then made an appointment with the medium for a cer-
tain evening that week. This gentleman had a spirit-
ualistic book that dealt with an "Indian Spirit Guide,"
and some similar matters that interested him greatly,
and over which he was very enthusiastic. This book
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. l8S
he loaned to the medium to read, at the time when he
made the appointment.
The old gentleman, at the proper time, went to a
store and purchased two slates, carrying them to the
home of the medium wrapped and tied in the original
paper of the stationer. Meanwhile the medium had
instructed his confederate, who was concealed in the
adjoining yard. It was summer time and the medium's
windows were open. A center table stood by an open
window.
When the gentleman arrived, the medium directed
him to lay his package on the table and to give him
his attention for a few moments. The medium was
reading in the "Indian Spirit" book, and seemed to
greatly desire to discuss certain passages with the gen- v
tleman. A chair was placed so that the gentleman's
back was towards the table ; and as he was very enthu-
siastic over the aforesaid book, he became deeply inter-
ested in the discussion. Meanwhile the confederate,
who had seen the gentleman arrive, reached secretly
through the open window, drew the slates out, untied
them, wrote a message, re-tied and replaced them.
When the medium saw them again in place on the
table, he said to the gentleman, *'You want a message
on your own slates. I suppose you have them there. Of
course you know that there is nothing on tb
just get them and hold them in your lap, still
This the subject did. After a time the medi
the gentleman to look and see if he had rec
thing.
The gentleman could only walk with a a
not gone without one for years. When
message, he became so excited that hf
started to his son-in-law's home in Cor
l86 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
show his message in triumph; and in his excitement
he never thought of his cane, and walked several
blocks to the car line without it, and did not recover
it for three davs. I know the name of the confederate
who wrote the message, and he is a resident of Omaha.
The medium secured the gentleman's "case" without
trouble after this.
I know another instance where this same medium
sold to a business man of Omaha, who happened to
be a believer, a girdle which he should wear and which
would increase his business twenty per cent. He paid
sixteen dollars for this girdle. I have secured one of
these and have it in my possession.
* * *
At another time a gentleman had repeatedly received
slate-writings from this medium, but decided to in-
vestigate further and bring his own slates. Now,
mediums are not looking for patrons of this class, and
only give them a sitting where there is considerable
money or some good advertising to be gained thereby.
At this time the medium had rooms in a business block.
The believer moved into this block, taking a room on
the floor above the medium, in order to be near him
and have good opportunity to conduct his investiga-
tions.
The medium was not anxious; and although the
gentleman came repeatedly with his own slates tied
up in paper, always managed to put him off in some
manner, saying that conditions were not right or some-
thing of the kind. Finally one day the medium saw
the gentleman leave his rooms on some errand; and
securing a pass key, he entered the gentleman's room,
untied the slates, prepared a message, re-tying them
and leaving all as before. He knew if the gentleman
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. 187
should make an examination and find the message, he
would attribute it to "spirits," so he took the chance.
In due time the gentleman walked in with his slates
still tied and under his arm. He had not opened them,
and he received a message that completely satisfied all
of his previous doubts.
I also know of an instance where a medium stopped
at the home of a believer over night. He was left
alone in the room a short time while the host was busy
elsewhere. During this time he succeeded in locating
the host's slates (most believers have a set) tied up
neatly in a bureau drawer. He quickly prepared a
message, and again tied them up as before. Later he
asked for some slates, and when they were brought
out asked the host to hold them just as they were.
His success was so great that he was paid a goodly
fee ; and this led to many "readings" by mail and quite
frequently brought the medium a ten dollar bill in a
letter, as the gentleman was wealthy. This gentleman
lives in a small town about thirty miles from Omaha.
In case a medium or his assistant secretly obtains
possession of a sitter's slates in a manner such as de-
scribed in the first part of this number or by any other
method, and they are securely screwed or fasteaejH
together, he may proceed with any of the metl](l'
given below.
If the two slates are screwed together, the assil
opens them with a screw-driver and replaces ('
after writing the message. If the screws
he may be able to remove the wax by pass
wire under the seals, and afterwards repl»
a small hot iron which he keeps t
for such purposes. If he is wholly t
the slates, he then drives a small i
lly tqS
livM
l88 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
frames, spreading them a trifle, and inserts a corset
steel with a small pencil at the end and does the writing
with this.
If everything else fail, a message can be written on
the outer sides of the slates, and there will be some
effect ; although the effect will be nothing like it would
be if the message were inside.
In case a pencil can not be inserted between the
slates with a corset steel, sometimes the message is
written on a slip of paper and this can be slipped in
rather easily.
XIV.
There is another case where a message is produced
on a marked slate brought by a subject. In this case
there is no assistant and the slate never leaves the
sitter's hand. He is instructed to place his slate under
and near the center of a small table, to press it up
against the table and to hold it by the edges only.
In a short time a message is found. In this case the
message is printed by the medium pressing a rubber
stamp containing it (and which is previously covered
with powdered chalk), against the slate while under
the table.
This stamp is made from a message written out by
the medium, so that it looks like ordinary writing.
It is attached to a rubber elastic under the medium's
coat : and the chalk on its letters is not disturbed
owing to the fact that the medium has a tin case or
guard on his trousers at the top on one side.
The stamp is held in this tin guard or clamp until
the slate is under the table. The medium pretends
to feel under the table to see if the slate is in the right
position. He secretly carries the stamp up in his hand,
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS. 189
presses it quickly against the slate, then removing his
hand, releases the stamp. It is drawn quickly out of
sight by the elastic under his coat, just like a hand-
kerchief vanisher used by a magician. The medium
has a number of stamps each bearing different mes-
sages, so that he can select a suitable one for each
sitter.
* * *
As I write this chapter, there is a medium about
one hundred miles west of Omaha who is traveling
around giving slate writings. His method is very
simple but is perfectly successful.
He is very expert at talking, and can hold a sub-
ject's attention in a marvelous manner. During the
entire experiment he talks constantly, with great rapid-
ity, and greatly interests the subject.
He uses three slates, but the subject sees and exam-
ines but two. The third slate, with the message, is
in a large pocket on the inside of his right coat front.
He has the slates examined ; and during this time he
is nervously walking behind the subject, and then in
front of him, tapping him on the shoulders, and talking
rapidly. He takes the two examined slates and places
them together, and stepping behind, the medium ap-
parently places them on the subject's head, requesting
him to reach up and .c^rasp them. lie immediately
steps to the front without any cessation in his dis-
course, and completely controls the subject's attention:
so that the latter thinks nothing' (^f the fact that tY
medium passed back of liim, and in fact soon fc
gets it.
Just as the medium steps back of the subject,
quickly takes the back slate with his left hand
leaves it in his large pocket, and instantly drawj
igO SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
and substitutes the prepared slate. He does this so
quickly, without any pause in his walking or talking,
that he never fails with the trick.
If a medium be a lady, she has many opportunities
for slate writing that a male medium does not have.
She can have so many large pockets in her skirts, and
can so easily conceal and exchange slates under a
table and in so many ways, that it is very hard to de-
tect the exact means she may use. One lady medium
had a mechanical rapper under her skirts which rapped
loudly on the floor when she pressed her knees to-
gether. She could thus have the "spirits" announce
in this mysterious manner when a message was com-
pleted.
There are also means for using secret panels, if a
subject allow his slates near one, or even near any
draperies ; and in fact, there are so many secret means,
that the only way a subject can be sure of a genuine
slate writing is to have his own slates and nez'er let
them out of his hands or sight for ez'en one instant
after cleaning them, I do not think anyone will ever
obtain such a writing.
* * *
There are also chemical tricks, although they are
not so much used. If a message be prepared with
nitrate of silver, and then breathed upon, it will vanish.
If the slate be washed with salt water, the message
appears but can not be erased. There are also dozens
of chemicals for writing invisible messages on paper,
which will appear from heat, or from the application
of a blotter saturated with other chemicals. If a mes-
sage be written on paper with a solution of sulphate
of iron, it is invisible. If the paper be placed in an
envelope moistened inside with a solution of nut-galls,
SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TES IC
the writing appears. The paper can be placed betwei
slates just washed with the same solution, and tiic
writing will soon be visible.
There are slate writing mediums sucli as Slade, v
can use the toes for writini^ messages on slates lu
on the floor under thi table. The medium wear'
shoe that he can slip i ff the foot easily, and the
of the stocking is cu away. There are also sla
writers who write wil i a small piece of pencil hei''
on the end of a single njer by a little piece of fie
colored court plaster i a hole in its center. In
such cases the messa is written while the hand
pinches the slate up under the table. There is a
thimble used, sometimes, with holders attached con-
taining colored crayons : but it requires an expert to
use it. Messages can be written on paper by the
"court -plaster method" while holding the paper or card
in the hand and waving it about.
In many of the slate tricks where an assistant is used,
a system of speaking tubes can be employed with
wonderful results if the medium be in his own home.
The openings are concealed by picture molding, dra-
peries, etc. They enable the assistant to hear al!' the
information the medium gets from the subject during
the reading, and he can thus prepare a more effective
message. These same tubes can be utilized by the
medium for producing "independent" whispers and
voices in a room where he holds a circle. By the use
of switches the voices appear to be first here, then
there, or can even enter at all of ihe openini;s at once.
Sound is very deceptive, ami in the last case it appears
to be in the very air.
There are many slate tricks that 1 have not described
here; but I have endeavored to give the best, and
192 SPIRIT SLATE-WRITING AND BILLET TESTS.
also to give a good example of the different types,
which will well illustrate the principles employed.
In reference to information furnished by mediums
in slate writings or otherwise, there are so many means
of obtaining the same, that it is difficult to be certain
of a test of this kind. The "Blue Book" of Boston
contains over seven thousand names alphabetically cata-
logued, with tests for each individual. Some of the
names are marked with such marks as "D. E." (dead
easy), etc.
Information is gathered from tombstones, old files
of the daily papers and even by an advance agent who
does secret detective work for that purpose. The most
information used in circles, however, is obtained in the
private readings given by the mediums. This is all
catalogued, and used with telling effect.
SOME MODERN SORCERY.
I.
NOT long ago I received a letter from an old time
friend, in which he urgently requested me to make
a journey to his city. In by-gone days he and I had
spent many hours together, discussing the mysteries
of existence, the hidden powers which nature manifests
to us, and the origin and destiny of the human soul.
My friend is a physician, and what is more, an earnest
student ; and he is also an investigator of that strange
phenomenon in nature which manifests itself in organ-
ized beings subjectively, as thought, feeling and things
spiritual.
Many times had we discussed the possibility and also
the probability of an existence of the s])iritual part of
man after death. Many times had he reported to me
cases of strange phenomena that tended to prove the
indestnictibility of spirit.
When I received this missive, it stated to me that
the writer most earnestly desired my ])resence in his
city, that I might assist in investiq^atini^ a very strange
and marvelous case of psychic ])lu'notiicna. The case
was that of a certain traveling;- s])irit medium, who
claimed the power to snmmon from the realms of th
invisible, the shades of onr (le])arte(l friends and lovi
ones. He gave most marvelous exhibitions to pro
194 SOME MODERN SORCERY.
his Strange and miraculous power. My friend stated
that he thought he had at last found a person with at
least some queer psychical gift, if not even possessing
the power that he claimed. He had watched the ex-
hibition most carefully, and had even served on a com-
mittee on the psychic's stage; and he could find no
evidence of trickery of any kind. He was inclined to
believe that this strange being really possessed the
power of vision without the use of human eyes as he
certainly read sealed missives, of which he could in
no secret manner have obtained knowledge.
Accordingly, on Saturday evening, I journeyed to
a city one hundred miles away to witness the work of
this modem sorcerer. On my arrival I suggested to
my friend a number of ways by which such things
could be performed by trickery, but he informed me
that none of my explanations seemed to elucidate this
strange work. The secret did not consist in the use
of odorless alcohol, for the reason that the medium
never touched the sealed envelopes at all. In fact he
was never nearer to them than ten feet. This also
made it impossible for him to use the principle on
which the trick is based, which is known to the profes-
sion as "Washington Irving Bishop's Sealed Letter
Reading."
He informed me that sheets of paper or cards were
passed to the spectators in the audience, and at the
same time envelopes in which to seal their questions
were furnished for them; that the spectators wrote
questions as directed, many times signing their own
names to them. He was certain that many persons
folded their written questions before sealing them, and
that the operator himself did not even collect the en-
velopes on many occasions. He informed me that the
SOME MODERN SORCERY. 1 95
best evidence of the genuineness of the performance,
lay in the fact that the medium seemed to have no
fixed conditions for his experiments; but seemed to
perform them in a different manner on each occasion.
The conditions were different in every case, yet he
always read the questions with the most marvelous cer-
tainty.
I thought the matter over after this, but could in
no way think of any plausible means of accomplishing
his work by trickery. I finally decided to wait and see
the performance first, and to figure afterwards on the
method employed.
Accordingly, at eight o'clock that evening I was
seated in the hall with my friend, and shortly after-
wards the "Seer" made his appearance, taking his seat
on the stage. He was a very slender personage, with
long hair and a particularly ghostly look. He took
his seat quietly on the stage. In a short time his man-
ager appeared and made an opening address, which I
will not repeat, and then asked some boy in the audi-
ence to pass cards around to the spectators on which
they were to write questions. Envelopes were also
distributed, in which to seal the cards. When the
writing was finished, the nianaj^er asked any boy to
take a hat which he held in his hand, and collect the
sealed envelopes. After the boy, whom every one
knew to be a local resident, kindly volunteered for this
service and executed ft, a cotntnittee was invited to the
stage to properly blindfold the medium. This was
done in a satisfactory manner, and the committee then
returned to the audience. 1 he manai^er now led the
blindfolded medium to the rear of the stai^e, where he
was seated somewhat behind a table, on which were
some flowers, a music box, etc. However, the medium
196 SOME MODERN SORCERY.
was in view plainly ; and he never removed the band-
age from his eyes or in any manner molested it.
When the boy came on the stage directly from the
front with the hat full of sealed envelopes, the manager
placed a handkerchief over the hat and asked the boy
to take a seat near the front of the stage facing the
audience. He was also directed to hold the hat in his
lap, and to deliver the envelopes to the manager, one
at a time, as he should call for them.
The operator now delivered a lecture, lasting some
ten or fifteen minutes, explaining the strange powers
of the blindfolded medium, who sat at the rear of the
stage in full view ; while the boy still maintained the
seat at the front of the stage, and held the hat of en-
velopes in sight of all.
After the lecture, the manager requested the boy to
give him one of the envelopes, which the boy did. The
manager did not look towards it in any manner; but
took it in the tips of his right fingers, held it in the
air, and asked the medium to give the writer of this
question a test. The medium shivered a few times,
allowed his frame to convulse slightly, and thus began :
"I feel the influence of one who was a brother. I
get the name of Clarence. Will the one who wrote
this question identify it as his?'* There was no re-
sponse from the spectators, and the medium a^ed
again that the writer speak out. Still silence greeted
his request ; when suddenly he pointed his bony finger
into the crowd, while his blinded face confronted them,
and exclaimed: '*Mr. John H — , why do you not
respond to your test?'' A gentleman in the audience
then acknowledged the test as his. The medium then
continued : "Clarence was drowned. I sense the cold
chilly water as it envelopes his form." At this the
SOME MODERN SORCERY.
lady sitting with the gentleman began to cry. The
medium continued: "The drowning was wholly an
accident. There was no foul play. Now, Mr. H — ,
have I answered your question, and are you satisfied
with your test?" The gentleman, a well-known citi-
zen, acknowledged that ,^ was perfectly satisfied.
The manager then laiu the envelope on a small table
and asked the boy for another one. The bny gave him
another from the hat when the blindfolded medium,
ten feet or more distani Etave the second test.
He shivered again ai legan: "I fee! the influence
of a young lady who di , suddenly. She says. 'Sister
Man,', I am very happy, and death was not so hard to
endure. I want you t< nsidt a good honorable at-
torney, and take his ad^ ,,.,. in the law suit you ask me
about.' " The medium then continued, "Miss L^— ,
your sister regards you with a look of great tenderness
and love. Are you satisfied with your test?" A lady
then replied that she certainly was entirely convinced.
The manager now laid this sealed envelope beside
the other one and again called for another. This was
continued until all of the envelopes in the hat were re-
moved and the questions answered. None of the en-
velopes were opened. In some instances the medium
first read the questions, word for word before answer-
ing them ; and when he did so, he described the writing
minutely, even the fonnation of the strokes nf the
letters.
After all of these tests were f;ivcn. lliu medium re-
moved the blindfold and seemed nnich exhausted. Then
the tables were removed to one side of thu slage, and
a cabinet erected; after which some cabinet manifesta-
tions that were very inten-sting were given. When
these were over, the manager collected the sealed en-
198 SOME MODERN SORCERY;
velopes from the table, and placed them on the front
of the stage, inviting the writers to call, should they so
desire, and get their questions. Some availed them-
selves of this opportunity and tore open a number of
the envelopes until they found their own questions.
The audience seemed greatly impressed with this ex-
hibition, and the next day it was the talk of the town.
* * *
On the next evening I again repaired to the public
hall to witness, and if possible, fathom this perform-
ance. This time, however, I found that an entirely
diflferent method was employed. Envelopes and slips
of paper were distributed ; and after the questions were
written and sealed the manager went about the room,
gathering them up in a small black bag with a draw-
string around its top. As he gathered up each one,
and while the writer still held it, he gave to that per-
son a number which was to serve as that particular
person's number during the tests. At the same time
the manager marked the number on the subject's en-
velope, while the subject held it, drawing a circle
around the figure, after which the subject dropped the
envelope into the sack.
When all were collected, the operator took the sack
in the tips of his fingers, and holding it aloft, walked
up the run-way to the stage where a cord hung from
a screw-eye fastened in the ceiling above. The other
end of the cord was attached to a piece of furniture
on the stage. The manager now attached the black
bag containing the envelopes to the end of this string,
and then taking the other end, drew the bag up to the
ceiling near the screw-eye, where it remained in full
view during the tests.
While the manager was doing all this, the ghost-like
SOME MODERN SORCERY. 199
medium had been walking about the stage, reading in
a large Bible. He now laid the Bible on a table and
advanced to the front of the stage, while the manager
delivered a lecture on spiritual philosophy and also on
the strange power of the medium. After this the man-
ager announced that the medium would hold a Bible
service, during which time he would give the tests.
The medium now took his Bible, and seating himself
in a chair facing the audience, began by reading a
verse. After this he closed his eyes for a time, and
then gave the first test. He began : "I will give these
tests in the order in which the manager gave you your
numbers, commencing with number one. Now,. Mrs.
Clara S — , I see standing near you an elderly lady,
somewhat stooped ; but I can not see her face plainly.
She seems to be your mother. She says to tell you
that your son is doing well where he is, and for you
not to worry, for he will return to you in time. Are
you satisfied?" A lady in the audience was visibly
affected, and acknowledged that the medium had an-
swered her question correctly. The medium read an-
other verse in the Bible, after which he gave the second
test in a manner similar to the way in which he had
given the first one. After this he read another verse,
and so continued until all the questions in the sack
were answered. The manager now lowered the sack,
and emptying the envelopes into a small basket dis-
tributed them unopened to their writers.
The effect of this exhibition was fully as great as
was that of the former one. and the medium continued
to be the wonder of the town.
*
On the next evening I again attended the meeting
On this occasion questions were written and sealed a
200 SOME MODERN SORCERY.
on the former occasions. This time the medium was
dressed as a "Mahatma," wearing a large turban. As
soon as the « questions were written, the manager col-
lected them in a small wicker basket, and emptied them
on a table on the stage. He only talked for a moment,
describing what the medium would do. During all this
time the medium was seated near the front of the
stage. The medium now tapped a little bell he held in
his hand, as if summoning the spirits, and began giv-
ing the tests in the most marvelous manner. He
seemed somewhat nervous, and finally arose and walked
across the stage, stopped a moment and then continued
his walk. Meanwhile he kept giving the tests. Oc-
casionally he would walk about nervoulsy, and some-
times he would seat himself in the chair for a time :
but he kept right on giving test after test, with perfect
accuracy, while the sealed envelopes remained in full
view on the table. During this time, and in fact during
the time the audience was writing the questions, neither
the medium nor the manager had ever left the sight of
the spectators for even an instant.
After all the tests were given, the medium, very
much exhausted, fell on a couch on the stage: while
the manager scooped the envelopes back into the bas-
ket, and then distributed them to their writers in an
unopened condition.
I will now explain how this "occultist" gave these
various billet tests.
II.
We will first refer to the tests given the first evening.
A boy from the audience gathered up the sealed en-
velopes in a hat, and brought them to the stage, sitting
with them in his lap ; while he delivered one at a time
SOME MODERN SORCERY. 20I
to the manager, who held it alqft,, during which time
the blindfolded medium in the rear gave the test.
There was a simple little move that escaped the eyes
of the spectators in this instance. The spectators did
not know what was to happen, neither did the boy.
The move was executed as follows: Just as the boy
came on the stage with the hat the manager received
the hat in his right hand and in a natural manner.
Nothing was thought of this, as there was nothing sus-
picious in the act. Meanwhile the manager directed
the boy to take a chair that sat to the left of the front
of the stage, and to place it to the right side in front,
facing the audience, and to take his seat thereon. Now,
this conversation with the boy naturally occupied the
attention of the spectators ; and while the boy was exe-
cuting the directions the manager turned to the table,
which was somewhat back' on the stage, and apparently
took a large handkerchief from it, and with the hat
still apparently in his hand, he stepped to the boy,
giving him the hat of envelopes and the handkerchief,
at the same time instructing him how to cover the hat,
and how to deliver the envelopes one at a time. All
of this maneuvering seemed so natural that the audi-
ence thought nothing whatever of it.
Now, as the manager turned to the tabic to ^et the
handkerchief, and while most eyes were on the boy
as he placed his chair and took his seal, the niana<;cr
deftly exchanged the hat in his rii^lit band for another
hat just like it, that was filled with "duiiiniy" envelopes
and which was behind the flowers, music box, etc., on
the table. As he immediately turned with ibe bat ap-
parently still in his hand, but with a lari^e handkerchief
in his other hand, evcrytbin.G: seemed natural and the
audience thought nothing of the incident.
202 SOME MODERN SORCERY.
The manager now, after giving the boy the hat and
handkerchief, invited a committee to come forward and
blindfold the medium who had been seated at the left
of the stage. The committee first placed a lady's glove
on the eyes of the medium as an additional precaution,
and then placed a handkerchief over this and tied it
behind his head. • This method of blindfolding is the
one usually employed by most mediums. If the face
of the medium be properly formed, he can easily shift
such a bandage with his eyebrows, sufficiently to see
directly under his eyes, by looking down alongside his
nose. The (Committee now retired to the audience, and
the performer led the medium to a seat behind the
table.
Now, while the manager delivered the lengthy lec-
ture, the medium quietly tilted over the hat of enve-
lopes behind the objects on the table ; and then taking
one at a time, opened the envelopes and removed the
cards, arranging the cards on top of each other like
a pack of playing cards. The lecture lasted long
enough for the medium to complete this task ; and as
he held the cards in his left hand, he could now move
slightly to the right so that he was pretty well in view
of the spectators. However, his left hand did not come
into view.
By the time the lecture was completed, the spec-
tators had entirely forgotten the fact that the manager
ever received the hat from the boy at all. In fact, next
day I noticed from the talk of the spectators, that they
invariably asserted that the hat never left the boy's
hands or their sight.
Now, while the manager held each envelope aloft,
the medium had but to read the top card in his left
hand and give the tests in a dramatic manner. After
SOME MODERN SORCERY. 203
the tests, when the tables were set to one side and a
cabinet erected, an assistant out of view received the
cards from the medium's left hand; and then while
behind the scenes, replaced them in envelopes, sealed
them, and then exchanged these for the "dummy" en-
velopes on the small table. After the entertainment,
the manager placed the originals (now again sealed),
near the front of the stage for the writers to take and
keep as souvenirs if they should so desire.
It is evident that this method could be varied a little.
For instance, when the manager holds the envelope
aloft, the medium could first read it and carefully de-
scribe the writing. He could then ask for the enve-
lope, so as to become en rapport with the writer, in
order that he may give the correct answer. In this
case he could leave the surplus cards on the back of
the table behind the music box, and have in his left
palm, only the single card he is reading. When he
receives the envelope, he should place it in his left hand
directly over the card, and tear off the end of the en-
velope. He should then apparently take out the card
from the envelope, but in reality take the original card
from the rear of the envelope with his ri^ht hand.
He should then with his ri^ht hand press this card on
top of his head and give the answer, while his left
hand lays the opened envelope on the table or music
box. In this case, as soon as he answers the question,
he should return the card to the manat^er with his
right hand, and ask the nianai^er to have some boy
run with it to its writer. After it is returned to its
writer, the manager can hold aloft another envelope
and the medium continue with the tests. After the
tests, the manager should remove the torn envelopes,
as thev contain "dummv" cards.
204 SOME MODERN SORCERY.
I will now explain the method pursued on the second
evening. After the questions were written and sealed,
the manager went among the spectators collecting the
envelopes in a cloth bag. He first numbered the en-
velopes, at the same time instructing each spectator
to remember his number, after which the envelopes
were dropped into the bag. When all the envelopes
were collected, the manager lifted the bag in the tips
of his fingers and ascended to the stage with it in plain
view. He quickly attached it to the cord and drew it
up to the ceiling. So far all was fair ; but just at this
moment a person in the rear of the hall made the
statement that he desired to place his envelope in the
bag also. The performer asked a gentleman on the
floor to take the bag» which he now lowered and de-
tached, and to kindly go to the gentleman and get his
envelope. While he was doing this the manager held
the audience by his discourse. The two gentlemen
were, of course, paid confederates; and when they
met behind the spectators, they merely exchanged the
first bag for a duplicate under the coat of the rear
confederate, who then slipped around behind the stage
with the original.
When the other confederate returned to the stage
with the duplicate bag and handed it to the manager
he ran this one up to the ceiling. This method can
be varied by the manager making the exchange under
his own coat in the first place when in the rear of the
hall after collecting the envelopes.
Meanwhile an assistant behind the scenes opened
and copied the questions neatly on a sheet of paper,
and numbered each one. As he did this he slipped
each one into a duplicate envelope, which was also
numbered by the manager with a ring drawn around
SOME MODERN SORCERV. 205
the figure. This he sealed. As soon as all were cop-
ied this assistant carefully drew the medium's Bible
just out of sight from the table near the flies where it
rested, inserted the sheet containing the copied ques-
tions, and pushed it back into view again.
During this time th medium was walking slowly
about at the front of t1 ; stage while the manager de-
livered his lecture. At the close of the lecture the me-
dium stepped back to the table where he had laid his
Bible a short time before, picked it up and came for-
ward taking a seat facing the audience. He next
opened the Bible and turned the leaves over slowly,
passing the sheet of paper and reading and memorizing
the first question quickly. He then turned the leaves
beyond this sheet of paper and finally selected a verse
and began reading it impressively. As he read this
verse he allowed the Bible to tilt forward sufficiently
for the spectators to see that there was nothing like a
loose sheet in it, should such an idea occur to any one.
As he had turned over other pages after secretly
reading the question, the sheet was hidden from view.
After reading the verse he allowed the Bible to close,
and then closing his eyes pave the test for number one.
After this he again opened the Bible and turned the
leaves through it slowly, read the second question
secretly, and finally found a second verse, which he
proceeded to read in a solemn tone. He then gave
a second test, and so continued until all the tests were
given. He then lay down very unich c.\liausti'd. ami
the manager lowered the clmh bag containing the
dummy envelopes, and emptied them upon a small
table near the front of the stage. He then stepped to
the rear of the stage and picked up a little wicker
basket, into which he scooped the diuumy envelopes
206 SOME MODERN SORCERY.
from the small table where they lay in full view. He
now descended and rapidly returned the unopened en-
velopes to their respective writers.
The basket is what is known as a "Billet changing
basket." It is lined with red satin and is a small
affair with straight sloping sides. It has a handle
which, when down, locks two flaps up against the
sides of the basket. This is done by two little pro-
jections on the base ends of the handle. They are
of wire and are bent into such shape that they project
downward when the handle is down, and hold the two
side flaps up against the sides. These flaps are of
pasteboard, and are covered with red satin the same
as the basket lining. There is a spring in each flap
which closes it upon the bottom of the basket when
it is released by raising the handle. Envelopes in the
bottom of the basket are thus hidden and retained,
when the flaps are released, and the duplicates drop
into the basket, from the sides where they were con-
cealed by the flaps.
This basket can be supplied by the conjuring depots,
or it can easily be made. The handle can be made of
wire and wrapped with raflia grass which is on sale
at the department stores. A pasteboard lining covered
with red satin must first be sewed into the basket, and
then two flaps of pasteboard slrould be hinged to a
pasteboard bottom by pasting on a hinge of cloth. A
suitable spring can be made of spring wire and sewed
into position, after which this is all covered with red
satin and placed in the basket. The basket should
have sides about four inches high, and the bottom
should measure about seven and one-half by ten inches.
The sides and ends slope outward, and the basket is
open wicker work. Suitable bows of ribbon on the
SOME MODERN SORCERY. 207
ends of the handle and corners of the basket conceal
the mechanism.
In the present instance, the assistant Ijehind the
scenes, after reading and placing the questions in du-
plicate envelopes which the manager had previously
numbered, sealed thei: ilaced them in the sides
of the basket, bent up ■■ is into position, and low-
ered the handle locking i m place. He now pushed
this basket into view on a 1 e at the rear of the stage ;
and when the manager was ready to return the enve-
lopes, he scooped the i inmy envelopes from the table
(where they lay after "ic bag was emptied") into this
basket. He then liftei the handle which released the
flaps, covered up the ummy envelopes and dropped
the originals into vie '. These he took down and
quickly distributed to the writers. Being numbered,
this could be quickly done.
I will now describe the method employed on the
third evening. This time dummy enveloiies were placed
in the sides of the basket, and the handle left in a low-
ered position while the operator gathered up the en-
velopes. As the manager returned to the stage he took
the basket by the handle. This released the dummy
envelopes, and covered up the originals retaining them.
He emptied the dummy envelopes upon the small table
and then laid the basket on a table near the flies in the
rear, and rather out of view. An assistant behind the
scenes took out the original envelopes, opened them,
and as he read the questions repeated them inio a small ,
telephone. The wires from this telephone ran under
the stage carpet to a pair of metal plates with a tack
in the center of each plate which ]iijinted upward.
These plates were located under certain sjjots in t
2o8 SOME MODERN SORCERY.
carpet and directly in front of the medium's chair.
There were also two other pairs of >yires leading to
two other positions on the stage. The medium was
dressed as a "Mahatma" on this evening, wearing a
large turban. A large tassel dangled by his left ear,
completely concealing a small **watch-case receiver"
which was attached to this ear. Two tiny wires led
from this receiver, inside his collar, down his person,
and were connected inside his shoes to other wires
which penetrated the soles of his shoes. These latter
wires were soldered to copper plates which were tacked
into position on his shoe soles. He now took his po-
sition in the chair and placed his feet over the hidden
tacks, which now contacted his shoe plates, completing
the circuit, so that anything whispered into the tele-
phone on the stage was repeated in his ear. He then
gave a few tests, tapping his spirit bell, which was a
signal for more information from the assistant.
He soon grew nervous and walked away giving a
test as he walked. He now paused in a certain position
for a moment, placing his hand to his head as if some-
what dazed and tapping his bell. In this position his
feet were again over two concealed tacks, and he again
secured information for another test, which he gave as
he walked about. He now paused in a third position
and gave another test, after which he returned to the
chair, continuing his work. This maneuvering he kept
up, until all the tests were given ; after which he fell
upon a couch exhausted, but with his feet from the
spectators.
The manager now stepped to the rear of the stage
and took the basket, which was now in place contain-
ing the original (?) envelopes behind the flaps; and
stepping to the small table he scooped in the dtmimy
SOME MODERN SORCERY. 209
envelopes; then taking the basket by the handles, he
stepped down the run-way and rapidly returned the
unopened ( ?) envelopes to their writers. The assistant
had, of course, sealed the questions in duplicate en-
velopes previously numbered by the manager. He had
placed these behind the flaps, and shoved the basket
into view on a table at the rear of the stage.
III. %
I use a variation of these tricks in my double parlors.
I have made a ^'billet changing basket'' as above de-
scribed, and have also made a similar basket except
that it contains no mechanism.
I pass cards and envelopes to the spectators in the
front parlor. When the questions are written and
sealed in the envelopes, I gather them up in the mech-
anical basket ; I step to a table in the rear parlor and
apparently empty them upon it. In reality, I have just
raised the handle so that the originals are retained,
and the dummy envelopes are emptied on the table
instead.
I now step to an adjoining room for an instant, to
get a small decorated screen. I secretly leave the
basket containing the original envelopes in this room
and return with the other basket in my hand in its
place. I place the small ornamental screen on the table
back of the envelopes, but leave the envelopes in vie^
and request the spectators to notice that T do not f
near them until I get ready to j^ive the tests. I no
carelessly lay the non-mechanical haskct on a tal
in the room where the spectators arc and proceed va
some other tricks.
Usually I give the series of experiments descr
2IO SOME MODERN SORCERY.
in the chapter entitled "Mediumistic Reading of Sealed
Writings." I state to the spectators that I will not give
the tests for the sealed envelopes until later in the
evening.
Meanwhile, should any one think of such a thing,
he can easily examine the little basket, which he thinks
I have just used ; as it still lies on the table in the front
parlor with other discarded paraphernalia, including
slates, etc. I use no assistant; so after a time has
elapsed, and when by the performance of other sealed
readings, suspicion has been diverted from the tests
with the billets, my wife retires on some trifling errand.
While out, she opens the envelopes in the basket, pre-
pares the sheet of questions, and places it in the Bible ;
then she re-seals the questions in envelopes previously
marked by me, places them in the sides of the basket,
raises the flaps and lowers the handle. She then
usually enters with some light refreshments for the
spectators, which explains her absence with a word.
I continue with other experiments for ten or fifteen
minutes after her return ; then I gather up my surplus
paraphernalia, including the dummy basket and carry
all to the room adjoining the back parlor, where I
leave it. I return instantly with the mechanical basket
which I place near my own table; and then I give
another experiment of some kind.
I now pick up the basket and announce that I have
decided to return to their writers, the envelopes on the
table in front of the screen, before attempting to give
the tests. I do this as if it were a later notion. I now
scoop in the dummy envelopes, and raise the handle,
which action covers them up and releases the originals
(now sealed). I now distribute to the writers their
envelopes, which I can do, as they are numbered as
SOME MODERN SORCERY. 21 I
described earlier in this chapter. I request each sitter
to hold his envelope until I shall give his test. Then
I usually perform some other little experiment before
giving the tests.
I now take up my Bible, which I will state I brought
into the room, unnoticed, when I returned with the
last basket. I then seat i -If and leisurely turn the
leaves through the Bibl , reading verses, and giving
the tests as before described.
I always first read a (]uestion secretly, and then turn
by the sheet of paper and begin reading a verse of
Scripture, .^s I do this I permit the front of the Bible
to lower enough for the spectators to see the printed
pages. This prevents suspicion. Meanwhile, the spec-
tators have forgotten that I ever stepped from the
room at all with the basket, and even tliat my wife
retired for some refreshments. Neither did they notice
the Bible when I brought it in.
The effect on each person, as I call him by name
and describe the "influence" of his "dear one." giving
names and most marvelous information, is far superior
to what it would be, were I merely to read the (ques-
tions literally, and give the answers.
There is another method of working this trick.
which a certain medium whom I know, used an cniire
winter with great success. He gathered up tlic enve-
lopes in his hand: and holding tlicm alnft in view of
every one, he ran up to the staj^e and laid the enve-
lopes in full view on a table.
Now without any pause, lie tiirned to the auilionce
and began giving the tests in a very ni;irvelnns fasbinn.
212 SOME MODERN SORCERY.
He paid no attention to the envelopes behind him on
the table, but stood on the stage, moving about occa-
sionally, and gave every test in a very telling manner.
The secret lay partly in a little move that escaped
the attention of the spectators. A chair sat upon the
stage, and it was directly in the path of the medium
when he returned with the billets. This chair he set
to one side, just out of view in the flies, and quickly
thereafter placed the envelopes on the table. The
move seemed so natural that it attracted no notice, and
was immediately forgotten.
Now, on the back of the chair, concealed from the
view of the spectators, was what magicians call a
Card servante. This appliance consists of a wire ring
some five inches in diameter upon which is sewed a
shallow cloth sack. It is fastened to the back of the
top cross piece of the chair so as to hold the mouth of
the sack open in a horizontal position.
Extending vertically above this ring, and soldered
to it on the side next to the chair, is a strip of brass
three inches long and one-half inch wide. This is
fastened to the chair with a thumb screw. On this
strip of brass is another strip riveted to it at the bot-
tom, but separated from the upper portion a half inch
all the way up, so as to form what is called a "clip."
Into this clip, prior to the performance, is slipped a
package of dummy envelopes.
When the medium returns to the stage, this chair
appears to be in his way; so he takes it with both
hands and sets it into the edge of the wings. The hand
containing the envelopes catches the top cross-piece
of the chair with the fingers of that hand and the
envelopes just behind it. At this instant he releases
the package of original envelopes and they fall into
SOME MODERN SORCERY.
the open sack of the sen^ante. At the same time he
grasps the package of dummy envelopes held in the
dip. and retains them when he sets the chair down.
The spectators naturally suppose these dummies to be
the originais, still in his hand. He lays them on the
table and turns to the aut
While he does this, an
and reads each question.
on a large blackboard wl
blackboard and assistant
talors, and no thought of
The medium has but to g
done in a large hand, rea
tests. The assistant can
an exchange of them cai
performance.
"d begins the tests.
in the wings opens
r rites the same quietly
1 taces the medium. The
t be seen by the spec-
ever occurs to any one.
ce at the writing, which is
each question, and give the
'ain seal the questions and
ily be effected after the
There is an improvement to this trick when worked
in a large hall that I believe will prove thoroughly
practicable. If so, it will do away entirely with the
use of a Bible, blackboard, or telephone wires.
When the manager returns to the stage with the
sealed envelopes, the medium, who is on the stage in
full view, immediately begins giving tests while he
walks about. He can even go down the aisles and
give the tests from any position he may choose. While
in the aisle giving the tests amongst the spectators,
he need not pause any more between the tests than
was necessar>- in the previous method on the slase.
There are no visual signals whatever.
If this method prove practicable, it will be liie uv^V
arveloiis performance of the kind ever .Ljiven <<n
rth. I am indebted for the idea to my brotlier-in-
214 SOME MODERN SORCERY.
law, Mr. Charles W. Robbins, who is an electrical
engineer for the Western Electric Co. of Chicago. Mr.
Robbins is well informed on the subject of trickery,
and is quite a performer himself.
He suggested to me the idea of doing away with the
wires which I was contemplating should lead down
the aisles to metal plates under the carpet, and to sub-
stitute wireless telephony in its place. He thinks that
an apparatus can be concealed on the person of the
medium, with wires leading to the same "watch-case
receiver" on his ear. The tassel from the turban can
conceal it if the medium be a gentleman, while if a
ladv, the hair can be dressed and combed so low as to
conceal it effectually.
There will be a telephone on the stage in the rear
as in the other case, and a small wire will have to be
laid entirely around the outer edges of the hall. This
can be next to the floor or ceiling, or it can be buried
outside.
He informs me that words have been sent inside a
court of a size of 150 by 200 feet, and that he sees no
difficulty in designing this for an ordinary hall. The
mechanism whicli the medium is to wear will doubtless
require some experimenting.
•l
SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHE-
NOMENA.
IN the book entitled Psychics: Facts and Theories, by
Rev. Minot J. Savage, at page 15, the following ac-
count will be found :
"Soon I began to hear raps, apparently on the
floor, and then in different parts of the room. On this,
the lady remarked, simply: 'Evidently there is some
one here who wishes to communicate with vou. Let
us go into the front parlor, where it will be quieter.'
This we did, the raps following us, or rather beginning
again as soon as we were seated. At her suggestion
I then took pencil and paper (which I happened to
have in my bag), and sat at one side of a marble-top
table, while she sat at the other side in a rocker and
some distance away. Then she said: *As one ^
getting at the matter, suppose you do this : Y
what friends you have in the spirit world. ^
a list of names — any names you please, re
tious, only among them somewhere include
of some friends in the spirit world who,
might like to communicate with you, if si
were possible.' I then began. I held a p
she could not possibly have seen what I
though she had not been so far away,
pains that no movement or facial exp
2l6 SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA*
betray me. Meantime she sat quietly rocking and talk-
ing. As I wrote, perhaps at the eighth or tenth name,
I began to write the name of a lady friend who had
not been long dead. I had hardly written the first let-
ter before there came three loud distinct raps. Then
my hostess said, This friend of yours, of course,
knows where she died. Write now a list of places, in-
cluding in it the place of her death, and see if she will
recognize it.' This I did, beginning with Vienna, and
so on with any that occurred to me. Again I had
hardly begun to write the real name, when once more
came the three raps. And so on, concerning other mat-
ters. I speak of these only as specimens.
"Now, I cannot say that in this particular case the
raps were not caused by the toe joints of the lady.
The thing that puzzles me in this theory, is as to how
the toe joints happened to know the name of my friend,
where she died, etc., which facts the lady herself did
not know, and never had known."
It has been the writer's good fortune to witness
practically this same experiment, performed by a very
expert medium, Dr. Schlossenger, who was traveling
over the country a few years ago.
I was residing at that time in Falls City, Neb., a
place of a few thousand population. For two winters
I had traveled some as a magician, so when the me-
dium came to town, and began to perform his miracles,
certain members of the community suggested having
me witness one of his seances, thinking I would be
able to discover whether his tests were genuine, or
whether they were performed by the aid of trickery.
Accordingly, one evening, a prominent physician in-
vited me, with certain relatives and friends, to attend
a seance given in his parlors.
SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOME:
When we arrived I was introduced to the mediu
an elderly gentleman with a long white beard, ai
wearing glasses. He appeared to be slightly deaf, a
he placed his hand to his ear and had my name re-
peated. He was introduced to the remainder of the
company en masse, the i f the visitors not bei
given to him.
The medium soon ar unced that "his mission i
this earth was to absO"..plv prove to humanity t>
immortality of the sou He now offered to giv
some tests to those desir it. and asked for a sma
table which was placed in an adjoining room. He in
variably held his hand to his ear, to catch what wa^
being said, being apparently quite deaf. He also used
this same expedient when listening to the voices of the
unseen spirits, and reporting their communications.
My father and another gentleman were selected for
the first test, as they were considered very Sceptical
in such matters. As they retired to a closed room I
did not see the experiment, but will give some parts
of it as reported to me, further on. In a short time
they retunied to the parlor, engaged in a discussion
over the matter; and my father remarked, "[ do not
know how you got your information, but I feel certain
it was not from my brother, or he would have given
a certain point correctly." The medium then said,
"If I will tell you where your fallier died, and the
disease he died of, will you be convinced?" My father
replied, "I suppose I will have to be, if vou can do
that."
They then retired, and the mcdirm succeeded par-
tially in the experiment ; and woidd havi- Lvriaiidy
succeeded entirely, had my fallicr fol!o\Mjd liis iusiruc-
2l8 SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA.
tions. I will describe what was reported to me of this
test, further on.
I now offered myself for a test. I retired to the
room with the medium, and incidentally offered him
one dollar and fifty cents, the same my father had
given him ; but he refused the money, saying : "Your
father is not convinced, and I will not take any more
money.''
He now took a sheet of paper from a tablet, and
drew five straight lines across it, spacing the sheet into
six spaces about equal. Next talking my hand, and
looking earnestly into my face, he said: "Promise me
that if I succeed, you will not make light of this.
Promise me, for this is very sacred to me." I did so.
He now directed me to write names in the spaces on
the sheet, any names I pleased, writing but one name
in each space. All the names were to be of living or
fictitious persons except one, this one to be the name of
some one I had known who was then dead. He said,
"Be fair with me, and I will scratch out the dead i>er-
son*s name." These were his exact words, therefore
I in no way tried to hide my writing from him, al-
though he stood at a distance and did not appear to
watch me. I took a pencil and began writing the
names ; being unprepared I had to think of the names
I wished to write. I desired to select names of persons
living at a distance, so that he could in no possible
manner know them. While I was writing he talked
incessantly, which in spite of myself divided my atten-
tion. At the same time he kept urging me to write,
and immediately after urging me, would begin talking
rapidly on some spiritualistic subject. I remember
saying, "You must give me time to think." I thought
I used great care, so as to write each name with the
SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA. 2ig
same precision, and tried to betray no emotion when
writing the dead person's name. I selected the name
"Cora Holt" for the dead person's name. This was the
name of an aunt who had died in another state.
As soon as I had written the names he asked me to
cut them apart into slips, having one name on each
slip. Now here I do not remember whether he folded
them himself, or had me help, as I was not expecting
them to be folded. However, we folded each one into
a billet with the writing inside.
He now directed me to place them in a hat, and to
hold the hat under the table, take out the billets one at
a time, and throw them on the table top. This I did
while he stood with his right arm extended toward the
table and about one foot above it. After I had thrown
a few billets on the table, as I threw the next one, I
heard three loud distinct raps. He said, "There, that's
the one that is dead. Open it and see if I am right,
but do not let me see it. Fold it up again and place it
in your pocket." I opened the billet. I did not know
what the name would be, as I had mixed them under
the table ; yet I had a feeling that it was correct. I
opened it, and sure enough the name was "Cora Holt."
I refolded it, placing it in my pocket. I must coni
that I felt a momentary creepy feeling pass ove^
as my emotions were wrought up to such a pitch 1
intense manner in which I had watched all the
of the experiment. I informed him that he was
but did not tell him the name. He now took n:
in his, and leading me into the parlor, had me
the company what had just occurred. Now
his hand on my head, he said : "I will endeavo:
you the name." Closing his eves, his body
or shuddered with a kind of paroxysm, and i
220 SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA.
with a great effort he pronounced the name "Cora
Holt." This effort seemed to greatly exhaust him,
and coming out of his temporary trance he begged us
to excuse him, saying that there were opposing spirits
present and he could do' no more that night ; that he
had done all for us that lay within his power. He now
took his leave.
This was all very impressive to me at the time, ex-
cept the raps. It was only afterwards that I thought
out the explanation, which I will give further on. As
to the raps, they had the sotmd as of a pencil tapping
loudly on a thin strip of wood, or a ruler, and not the
sound of tapping on a table. I had previously known
of the mechanical and electrical rappers, supplied by
certain conjuring depots, and worn on the person of
the medium, or attached to a table. My impression
was at the time that possibly he had a rapper in the
sleeve of the arm extended over the table, and by di-
recting the attention to the table the sound would ap-
pear to come from there. As I was sitting right
against the table, I will say that the sound did not
appear to me to come from the table, but more nearly
from his person.
Referring again to the test given my father, the
medium first announced his prices, which he would
accept if satisfactory. This was agreed to and paid.
He then had my father write names on paper in a
manner similar to the way I have described, except he
did not request my father to write a dead person's
name ; instead, he requested him to write, among other
names, his mother's maiden name, his wife's maiden
name, his father's name, also the names of certain
members of his family and of some of his friends,
some of whom should be dead. This my father did.
SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA. 221
•
Among the names written by my father was his
mother's maiden name, viz., **Celestina Redexilana
Phelps," a name certainly out of the ordinary. He
also wrote his wife's maiden name, his father's name,
his brother's name and several other names — six or
eight altogether.
When the* medium had the billets taken out of the
hat he said, "You have there the name of your mother ;
the name is something like *Celestia (not Celestina)
Roxalena (not Redexilana) Phelps,' " thus giving
wrong pronunciations to the first two names. However,
when my father opened it, sure enough it was his moth-
er's maiden name. My father now took another billet
which had written thereon his father's nanie. This
the medium gave correctly, stating that this was his
father's name. The next billet had written thereon
the name of my father's brother ; the name was "James
Asahel Abbott." The medium then said : "Your brother
James is here, and he says to tell you that he is happy
and that you are making a great mistake not to be-
lieve."
Now this brother had always been called by his
second name and not by the name of James. My
father said, "If you arc my brother, ^ive me your full
name." The medium replied, "James Ash-a-bell Ab-
bott," giving an entirely wroncf pronunciation of the
second name. This it was, with some other error, that
led to the discussion they had on returning to the par-
lor, and in which my father remarked, "If you get your
information from the dead, they should be able to
pronounce their own names correctly."
My father, not being familiar with the methods o
trickery, could not with exactness give all the minu
details of the test as I would have wished : and a5
222 SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA.
never had an opportunity to see 'this experiment my-
self, I can only surmise the means employed in its
production.
The second experiment with my father had been an
effort to tell the disease of which my grandfather died,
also the place where he died. The medium required
my father to write on the usual ruled paper, a name
of a disease and also a name of a place, in each space,
that is, one disease and one place in each space. He
remarked in giving directions, "Like New York mea-
sles, Philadelphia smallpox, etc." He required, how-
ever, that my father write in the same space the correct
disease, and also the correct place of his father's death.
The remainder of the spaces were to contain the names
of any disease or any place he might choose.
This my father did, writing in one space "Sacra-
mento dysentery." This was the correct disease, but
the city was the place of my grandfather's burial, and
not the place of his death, the latter being a village
called "Hangtown." The medium quickly gave dys-
entery as the disease, and Sacramento as the place of
my grandfather's death. It was plain that had my
father written the village where his father died, in-
stead of his burial place, the medium would have suc-
ceeded.
This, however, proved beyond a doubt that the me-
dium obtained his information from the writing, and
not from the spirits of the dead.
1e * *
After thinking the matter over, I decided that, while
I was uncertain as to the manner in which Dr. Schlds-
senger had performed all of these experiments, 1 could
reproduce two of them with certainty as often as he
did. I immediatelv made the trial and found I could
SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA. 223
succeed fully nine times out of ten on an average. I
might state that the doctor also failed about one time
in ten on an average; nevertheless, the people of the
community were greatly excited, talking of his mir-
acles, in groups on the streets, for some days. The
medium was coining money, yet I found a few cases
where he failed totally. The failures were seldom
mentioned ; it was the successes that excited the people.
The method I use in reproducing the first test given
me, is to so direct the attention of the subjects before
the writing, by my discourse, as to cause them to se-
lect unconsciously the name of the dead person in ad-
vance. This is easily managed with a little practice
in talking, and still they will never guess that it is
done on purpose.
Now, as they begin to write, they will naturally
pause before writing each name, to tfiink of a name
to write. The pause may be but slight, yet th^re is
some pause. Of course, when they write the selected
name, no pause will be necessary ; and if hurried
properly at that time they will make none. This is
the object of the incessant talking during the experi-
ment. If left to themselves, the subjects will, in ?'
one-half of the cases, write the selected name
third space from the top. In about half of
maining cases the selected name will be w
the fourth space from the top. This is espe<
if in your instructions you direct the subjeci
the dead person's name somewhere in amt
others where you cannot know where it is." I'
remaining cases the subjects are liable to wr-
selected name anywhere, generally first or la."*
my object is to so manipulate my subjects af>
them to write the selected name when I wa
224 SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA.
do SO. This IS done by continuous talking, and dis-
tracting their attention until the proper moment. I
choose the third space, since this, being the one they
are most liable to choose of their own accord, is easiest
to force. Just as Ihey begin to write the first name,
before they make a mark, I say suddenly, "Now be
sure and select names of living persons that I could
not possibly know." This is almost certain to insure
a pause, and the name of a living person to be written
first. I continue my talking in a natural manner,
taking the attention to a great extent from the writing,
and nearly always observing another pause just before
writing the second name. When the second name is
almost finished I exclaim suddenly, "Now write as
rapidly as possible !" If the subjects have beeij prop-
erly impressed with the seriousness of the experiment,
they will almost invariably, on finishing the second
name (in obedience to my command "to be as rapid
as possible," and in their desire to please me), hurry
into the name already in their minds, thus writing the
selected name in the third place. If such is the case
they will now most surely pause to think of a fourth
name. If so, I am certain that I now know the se-
lected name. However, if they should rapidly pass
into the fourth name, it is then uncertain whether the
selected name is in the third or fourth space. This,
however, seldom happens if worked in an expert
manner.
In rare cases the subject cannot be manipulated by
the performer, in which case it is purely guesswork ;
even in such cases, however, I stand one chance in
six of succeeding: and if I make a second trial on
failing (not uncommon with mediums), I stand one
chance in three of succeeding.
SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA. 225
It is hardly worth while to say that as I fold the
billets, I fold the third one slightly different from the
rest, so that while it will not attract attention, I can
see at a glance what it is when thrown on the table.
I memorize the name ; also, if in doubt, I fold a second
choice in a still different manner for a second trial.
Frequently I memorize more of the names, folding
so I can pick them out. Then, after giving the dead
person's name with proper effect, I pick up the others,
hold them to my head and call out the names. The
effect of this on a subject is very impressive.
With a little practice the above test can be given
with very small chance of failure ; and in the event of
making a failure it can be explained by the statement
that "there are opposing spirits present,'* or some simi-
lar excuse. If one has other tests at his command, it
is well in the event of failure, to announce that he will
try something else, and then give another test. As
these experiments are always tried alone with one or,
at most, two subjects, a failure attracts little notice.
Now I can not say positively that Dr. Schlossenger
performed this experiment in exactly this same man-
ner; but I do have a recollection of his hurrying me
along in my writing at some stage of its progress. I
also know that I can succeed as often as he did. I will
add further that a few days later I prepared six names
in advance, and, with my wife, had a sitting" with the
medium; this time, although I paid him. he failed
utterly. He tried in every way and had me write ad-
ditional names. This time I guarded the points in the
above explanation, yet no matter how he tried, he mad-*
an utter failure. All tricks require certain conditioi
and this is why it is not safe to repeat the same tr
for the same person. There is too much danger t
226 SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA.
the sub jest may notice the sameness of the modus ope-
randi.
rR^eferring to the second test which was given by the
medium to my father, I will state that when the sub-
jects are writing the cities and diseases, they will
naturally pause after writing the city, to think of a dis-
ease to go with it. Of course, when writing the correct
ones, which are already in mind, no pause will be ne-
cessary. Also advantage may be taken of the fact that
a small per cent, of persons die of smallpox or measles.
If in giving the directions one says, "Write like this:
Thiladelphia smallpox, New York measles,' ** and the
subject writes smallpox or measles in the list, it is safe
to eliminate that from the case. This is especially true
if written in connection with some large city, the name
of which occurs readily to the mind. It is safe also
to eliminate Philadelphia or New York if these should
be written, providing you mentioned these names in
the directions, and that the test is not being given in
their section of the country. A small per ceiit. of the
people of a country die in any two places of prom-
inence. Yet these places will be written readily by
most subjects, if they are suggested, or at least other
places of equal prominence will be written. If an
unusual place or disease should be written, it is almost
certain these are the ones.
It can readily be seen how expert one can become
at this by continuous practice, such as a medium has
many times a day ; how one can learn to take advantage
of every little point, and use it with telling effect on
unsuspecting strangers, who do not know what is go-
ing to happen, or what to look for.
I have been told that Dr. Schlossenger had a very
sharp eye, although wearing glasses; and that the
SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA. 22^
glasses were probably to make the subject think it im-
possible for him to read writing when they were moved
out of position and placed on the forehead, as they
were during the tests. It has also been suggested that
his poor hearing was feigned, to enable him to hear
remarks made about himself in his presence. I have
suspected that his memory had become trained to a
high degree of accuracy, enabling him to give his tests
with such marvelous success, as he did with nearly all
wherever he went. That he does not use one set of
principles only in his tricks, I am certain, but has many
more at his command which he uses continually. How-
ever, I can only vaguely guess at them from having
seen his tests but once.
Now, I do not say that this was the method em-
ployed by the lady with Rev. Savage, given in the
account at the beginning of this chapter. But as the
experiments are practically the same, it is safe to con-
clude that the methods used are the same, or nearly
so. If the test were genuine in the case of the lady
mentioned, it was probably genuine in the case of Dr.
Schlossenger. On the other hand, if it were trickery
in one case, it probably was in both.
Dr. Schlossenger gave other tests than th
gave me. I heard of them from various u
they seemed to be similar to one of the teJ
my father. I could onl5i» guess at the vcaet
ployed from the descriptions I heard. It
evident that he could have a stranger write » ,
of names of persons living or dead, relatives,
etc., in an apparently haphazard way; and
could successfully point out or have the "sj '
out the living from the dead, give the »•
ship of each, etc. While doing this he 1
xiS f»>xE rxrsc.u. homumistic phenomena.
alh- ED a T<rry npid aoiii ecc wiii ic manner, and seemed
a ^TTT strasse pcrscn.
I; vas lar-i to tcD wbat his prindfrfes were, from
steia^ a so^ expcrimeat onh- once : but I noticed one
iaa. and that was tfaai be. in Ins incessant talking,
vccM direct the siitcr (o write a name, contradict him-
self in a very c ct e MUk manner, order dK subject to
ask him a question, then answer with a rising inflec-
tioa before the subject coold ask it. and then again
contradict himself in a wry peculiar manner. All of
tins s«emcd so stiai^e and unusual that one could
hardly tell b>- what subtle art be gained his informa-
tioa,
Forr.:nate]y. a magician. Mr, C, S. Weller. had an
opportunity- to see this performance: and I am in-
debted to him for a description of it. I will sar. how-
ever, in Mr. Weller's own words. ''This latk stuff is
ver\- difficult to describe intelligibly on paper." If
one could only have an expert steiH^frapher to take
do\i~n the discourse of the doctor, with all the excla-
mations and unusual inflections, it would be a subject
well worthy of study afterwards: and the method
would (hen appear very plainly. The difficult lies id
the impossibility of quoting from memory the exact
words and modes of expression used by him. in his
e?qicrt conversational tricks.
The substance of the account which follows I
from Mr. Weller:
"To exactly describe my experience. I was request
to write the names of relatives, friends, or any
of living or dead persons. He divided the
not more than seven sections. In each sectk
a name, and in one section I wrote my V
SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA. 22f}
paper was then divided, by placing the same, face
down on the edge of the table: and each section was
cut off with a knife and rolled into a billet. I di'l all.
or nearly all of the preparing.
"CKiring the time, and while names were being writ-
ten, the medium retired to the farther part of the
room, remarking, 'I beg you not to let me see what yfni
write — Promise me you will not tell me — Ohf I am
so nervous — This work is so ver>- trjing on me. etc'
".\fter the billets were prepared he succt'sfully
selected, (by the aid of his spirit guide. I-evi(, first,
the living from the dead. Then he selected the name
of a friend, 'who was nothing more than a friend";
a sweetheart 'who was no longer a sweetheart.' etc.
Levi at first failed to make the tabic rap. and crti-
veyed the information by whispering: at least s^^ it
appeared, for the medium held his hand to lii< ear.
listening intently, to sounds (?) which I could \v>\.
"He also selected the name of an uncli- ;in'l ih'-
of an aunt 'who had just gone over,' Thi^ .luni
a message ending with these words: '('Ii;ir1ii-.
watching over you ; be good, 'n- true : itivfsii^'.-iii
know the triilh,' The mc|
jhlWl tllL'll I'OTlliini'"
lie— Charlie Wcllcr— thad
B^our iiaiiK' I'll'.
this message from yi\-^
Ett. i't< ' 'I'lii' \.
1 1
from the med^y|^M■^H
fi funii^lK''! ill
ilT.
a drandti^^^^^H
Btrodii'in^'
:llr.
des>^^^^^H
^P l<i\; nr 1)
aiiu
be se^ ^^^^1
^B sleii:;iu-ni-li:iiii1
, IK
^^^^H
K kinrl : tuerciv x
trick, antl^ ^^^^|
■eived iikuu r.w''
\\\\-
pi llic most iiitilli;
;.iii
230 SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA.
"I will now describe the performance a little more
fully, giving such explanations as have occurred to
me. The tests were given in Sioux City, Iowa, in
1903-
"There was a company of some twenty persons
gathered to witness the tests, each person paying
fifty cents. The medium explained that he would not
have time to give each person a test; and asked that
two be chosen, a lady and a gentleman, to 'form a
battery.' A lady was duly chosen; and I (thanks to
a friend), was chosen on the other end of the *batter>'.'
We were accompanied by the host, who was self-
appointed, and retired to another room.
"The medium took two sheets of paper, and divided
them with lines drawn across as previously described.
As nearly as I can recall, the lady was handled in
about the same manner that you were. There was one
difference, however. In a spell of apparent nervous-
ness, the medium retired for a drink of water, secretly
taking one of the lady's billets with him. The self-
appointed witness followed him. The medium dis-
missed this witness, asking him to inform the com-
pany that he would give them a test soon. He then
gave the lady some little information, making a mis-
take as to relationship, and dismissed her.
"Then he asked me to write some names on my
paper. After I had written two or three, he said:
*Do not neglect to include the name of a departed
person.' At the time, I had a distinct feeling that my
action showed by the manner in which I began writ-
ing again, that I had not previously written the name
of a departed person.
"I did not know whether I was to write one, two,
or a hundred names. Each time I wrote a name
SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA. 2^1
(thinking I was through) / had a feeling of a com-
pleted task. He would then urge me to write an-
other name, and say, 'Can't you think of another
name — an uncle — aunt — father — sister — or friend ?' By
watching my eyes, he could tell as soon as I had fixed
my mind on a name, and would know with consider-
able certainty whether it was an aunt, or uncle, etc.
This is based on the same principle as a certain card
trick, and one can be certain that it can be worked.
"After I had written four or five names, which ow-
ing to his constantly talking and directing me, I had
a hard time to select, he suddenly said, 'You have in-
cluded your own name? Don't tell me. At least write
some more names. I will not look. Promise me you
will not let me see what you have written. Oh ! I am
so nervous; this work is so trying on me, etc.' All
of this spoken in a very eccentric and excitable manner.
I wrote the other name, which of course he knew was
my own, for the reason that if I had already written
my own name, I would not have written another. Also
because I started to answer his question when he
stopped me.
"So far, he knew the location on the paper of Qk^
name of one departed person, who, by his s
he was reasonably certain was an aunt. He H
own name was the last written, or next to the b
could tell which was which, by the way I t
my own name, and by the slight 1
when writing the other.
"Further, by watching me write, he kii>
of the names. The few he had not \eAfn-
iartzed himself with when hi- showed "■■
pare the billets. By the shape of eac'
principal ones, he knew the names on ■
232 SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA.
asked me to select a billet and directed me to look at
it. Then, following the direction of the raps, or the
inaudible whispers of his guide, he would either direct
me to lay it down, or would say for instance, *It is an
aunt/ This in tone and inflection a partial statement,
likewise a question.
"If he was right, my eyes would light up, and I
would start to nod my head. If he was wrong, I
would try to keep my face a blank. By watching my
expression, he knew whether he was right or wrong.
He could then either say, *Yes, it is an aunt' ; or placing
his hand to his ear, 'Levi ! Tell me ! — No, it is not an
aunt.'
"Here is another example: When I opened another
billet he would speak like this: 'This is an uncle —
grandfather? Levi! Tell me!' Or he would ask the
raps. If this did not show him, he would say, 'Don't
tell me — I mean for you to ask me, is it the name of
an uncle and so on, but include in your question the
right relationship.' Then I would repeat a list, as
'uncle? aunt? mother? friend ?' etc., but naturally would
not mention the right relationship until I had run out
of questions.
"By this system of watching me, of 'forcing' and
suggesting names, of mentally retreating and advan-
cing, of asking questions which were asked in such
manner that at the time I did not fully realize he was
questioning me, but felt that I was doing the asking,
he gained the principal amount of his information, and
soon knew the different names and in what relationship
they stood to me.
"During all of the time I felt I was unintentionally
aiding him ; but I could not prevent myself from a nod
of the head, a brightening of the eyes, or an involun-
SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA. 233
tary start, etc. Not until later could I determine what
he had really done.
"As yet he had told me very little. Now he asked
me to pick up the billets, count them, and lead him into
the other room.
"There he put the billets into 3 hat and had some one
else take them out, while he closed { ?) his eyes. Then
it was that he picked out the names of uncles, aunts,
friends, sweethearts, etc. He stated which were the
departed ones, and got the message mentioning my
name. He also told the lady several impressive things.
One thing I should, however, mention. After he had
told the lady some few things in the first instance and
while he was absent getting the drink of water, she
discussed with me whether he was right or wrong.
She also told me some facts regarding names, part of
which he repeated when he gave the tests before the
company.
"Every one was impressed that he was quite deaf,
and also that he could not see well without his glasses.
I am sure his hearing and vision were both excellent ;
and that he could read writing upside down, or read
it by merely watching the writer covertly while he was
writing.
"When he divided the paper on the edge of ll
he first laid it face downwards ; but in folding]
each name to cut it off with his knife, thig |
such name into view, altlnough the paper 3
downward.
"Let me repeat that the <(iifStioning wa**
such a manner that the subject was not "
was questioned. The medium was verv
and subtle in his work. He also gave >
234 SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA.
Jesus Christ,* which was supposed to be a sermon in-
spired by the great Jewish Reformer,
"All of this possibly sotmds like child's play ; but I
want to say that it was very effective and most start-
ling, both to myself and the company. I experienced
the *cold shivers.' This gentleman, by his clever pres-
entation of the work which I have here very poorly
described, greatly mystified the most intelligent persons
all over this Western country, and made a greater im-
pression on them with it than did anything of the kind
that had ever occurred in their history. At the best
I can only faintly convey the idea of the effects he
could produce, and of the almost impossible things he
could accomplish with this conversational art. The
reader must remember that he had grown so expert
that he was very rapid in the work, although it takes
so long to describe it. This rapidity added an effect
of its own."
I
MATERIALIZATION.
I HAVE referred elsewhere in this work to the above
subject. I will here give a little additional informa-
tion in regard to it.
Where the medium works alone he generally uses
the luminous costumes previously described ; but when
he has confederates who impersonate the spirits, this
is unnecessary, as is also such complete darkness. Let
us suppose that the medium works from a cabinet. He
first allows strangers to erect and at the same time to
thoroughly examine it. Next he is taken into the cab-
inet and thoroughly disrobed by a committee, and his
clothing is examined. Then the committee retires.
The medium has a gentleman assistant who stays
with the spectators during the seance. This gentle-
man now steps in front of the cabinet and makes a
short talk to the spectators in regard to the co<
to be maintained during the seance. While h
ing, he is standing directly in front of the t
inet curtains, and close to them. Under tlv
coat, behind, is a small load of luminous
faces, hands, costumes, and two pencil ftt
The medium slips his hands secretly through
tains and removes this load, taking it into th-
The assistant now has the lights put oat.
himself in the front row with the ardent
help to see that conditions are not dish:
236 MATERIALIZATION.
The lights being out, the medium can emerge with
a luminous costume on his person, and with two other
forms supported by the extended reaching-rods ; so
that in the darkness there appear to be three persons
who come out of the cabinet. These the medium can
move about at his pleasure and two of them float up
into the air on the ends of the invisible rods.
The medium can then retire into the cabinet, and
push out a number of hands and faces on the ends of
the rods. After the manifestations, there is always
considerable time taken up in waiting for more mani-
festations, before the believers conclude that all is over
for the night. This gives the medium time to conceal
the costumes, which go into a very small space, and he
can also telescope the rods and conceal them. As he
has been previously disrobed, he would not think of
submitting to the humiliation of a second examinatioil
after the seance.
In case the medium be a lady, she has these costumes
and rods in a hollow belt which is worn around the
waist next to the skin. The ladies are invited into the
cabinet to disrobe her and dress her in their own cloth-
ing. Now for '^modesty's sake" the medium retains
a black underskirt on her person until she is dressed
in the committee's clothes. Then she reaches under
her skirts and loosens the black under-skirt and re-
moves it. She then lifts the other skirts as high as
possible, showing the committee the bare skin and
that she wears no other clothing. In this manner the
hollow belt escapes detection. The usual method,
where this means is not resorted to, is for a secret
confedereate to slip the load to the medium after the
lights are lowered and before the medium enters the
cabinet.
MATERIALIZATION.
237
In some cases the meditim siibmits to being tied in
a chair in the cabinet after the disrobing process, and
the ends of the rope are passed out to a committee
that hold them. The feet are roped and tacked to-the
floor, I will not describe the means by which the
medium escapes from these ties as there are so many
books published explaining the various rope ties. How-
ever, it is very easy for an artist in this line to escape
and perform the usual manifestations.
In some instances the medium is placed in a lar^e
wire cage and the same is screwed to the floor. No cab-
inet is used in such cases. After the lights are put out
the medium pushes the hands, faces, and forms on a
reaching-tube through the cage. Some of them are
made of fine rubber and are blown up through this
tube.
Where a hall is used, sometimes the instant the tights
are put out a spirit appears on the stage and then
vanishes. In this case there is a tube under the floor ;
and the rubber form is blown up out of this tube, with
a bellows, and then sucked back. The lights are tiirne<l
on instantly and the hall stage is seen to be vacant.
Many mediums prefer to use the various traps and
sliding panels for admitting confederates, who im-
personate the spirits. The best trap
ceiling described elsewhere in this
a medium who took rooms, and 1
by having the spirits enter throtii
cabinet was erected in froni nf t)i
ious "spooks" came in il
cabinet, and then out »<
where were the believers
did very well for a feiv
picious.
238 MATERIALIZATION.
The landlady now went away for a short visit, leav-
ing the medium in charge of her home. The medium
then decided that as she was gone, he would take ad-
vantage of her absence and cut a trap in the baseboard
of the room. He hired a cabinet maker and did the
work in the daytime. . Now, during the materializing,
the believers all usually sang loudly, such old hymns
as "Shall We Gather at the River." This was sup-
posed to aid the "dear departed" in materializing. One
quite prominent young man of this city had been play-
ing "spook" for the medium, and he happened along
as the trap was being cut. He was quite portly built,
so the medium had him creep through the opening to
see if it were large enough. It was almost too small,
and he got fastened in rather tightly, and could not of
himself get out. Just at this moment another comical
young man appeared, who had also been impersona-
ting for the medium. He looked down and saw his
portly friend half-materialized through the trap and
"stuck" there. He did not say a word but simply be-
gan singing, "Shall We Gather at the River." Me-
diums and their confederates have many a joke at the
expense of the believers whose money they are en-
joying.
Detective Clifton R. Wooldridge of the Chicago
Police Department, in a published report, speaking of
a materializing seance which he attended, says:
"I attended a seance and seized a 'spirit.' When
T grasped the ghost I felt the rotund form of a woman
who squirmed like an eel. When the lights were put
up I found that my prisoner was dressed like a man.
Her face was smeared with white paint.
"Attached to a pole in front of her was a paper head
around which was a white shroud four feet in length.
MATERIALIZATION.
239
Those in attendance believed this image to be the spirit
of a believer's dead relative. The 'niediuiiis' had sptxA:
images of men, women and children an<l could produce
them as circumstances demanded. The hght was
turned up and the contemptible imposition on credul-
ity was exposed to twenty-six dupes, who had been
paying one dollar apiece for the privilege of attending
meetings of the spook grafters for years. It was the
greatest expose of 'spooks' that has been made in many
years, A wagon-load of masks, wigs, false whiskers,
tin horns, gowns with safety pins in them, skulls and
skeletons with cross bones to match were seized."
There was a medium who gave some very success-
ful seances in Omaha a few years ago. as a "Material-
izing Medium,"
The audience could examine his cabinet and himself
thoroughly, then lock the only door to the room and
keep the key themselves, besides bolting the door on
the inside. The sitters would now form a circle about
the room, holding hands and guarding the door.
Nevertheless, as soon as the lights were lowered, the
medium came from his cabinet, leading :
spirits,* Parents recognized their childre
fond parent still has a withered flower 1
cannot buy, given by the spirit of a des
medium took the town by storm siryinj
sand dollars away with him i
spirits were produced in the •
He had trained children in '
room. There was a trqi in
along the wall of the room.
curtains of his cabinet. 1
entered and retired at tbe pr'
240 MATERIALIZATION.
the movable part of the base board with strong hooks
to the studding from the room where they were con-
cealed, and as there were dummy nails in this board
apparently holding it in place, the audience could not
discover but that it was perfectly solid. In the room
where the children were concealed, the base board was
held in place by door knockers which were screwed
through it into the studding. When time came to per-
form, the children unscrewed the base board on their
side, letting it down ; now unhooking the other board,
they entered through the opening into the medium's
cabinet. After the experiment the children hooked
the base board in place and screwed the second board
in place on their side of the wall ; then with their
make-up material they made their escape to other ap-
partments, leaving the door open in a natural manner.
During this time the spectators were examining the
jnedium, his cabinet and the room again, and telling
each other of the "dear one'* they had recognized,
while the medium sat, exhausted, recovering from the
weakening effects of his recent *'trance."
Probably the greatest swindle ever perpetrated in
the name of spiritualism, was recently brought to light
in Stockton, California. The medium and his con-
federates materialized everything from frogs and small
fish to a huge boulder of gold quartz weighing sev-
eral hundred pounds. This latter had to be brought
from the mountains with a mule team.
The materializing was done through sliding panels
in the wails, while the believers sat holding hands
about the opposite side of a table, and loudly singing
sacred hymns. They had the only door to the room
MATERIALIZATION. 24I
lodced and sealed, and never dreamt that the spirits
who brought the quartz from the mine were mules.
Thousands of dollars were invested in this "spirit
mine," the believers stacking their money on the quartz
as it lay on the table at a dark seance, and receiving
deeds in return for their money, which the spirits de-
materialized.
The medium established, or had his spirits establish,
a- "Treasury of Heaven" for the faithful to deposit
their money in, and on which they were to receive fifty
per cent, interest. This interest the believers contin-
ued to receive at dark seances from the spirits for a
time. Each sitter's interest was found on the table
stacked in front of him when the lights were lighted.
When the spirit bank became insolvent and the chief
medium disappeared, the believers were out about
thirty-five thousand dollars.
No less a personage than a millionaire of Tacoma,
Washington, is said to have contributed largely to
this spirit fund. I had known of this case for some
time before the exposure (conducted by a performer
engaged for the purpose), and knew that certain inter-
ested persons were contemplating bringing it about,
in ord^r to rescue certain estimable persons from ^
clutches of these mediums. This was successful
the confederates of the medium signed writt^
fessions in the presence of one of the mos
of the believers, and a gentleman who is (
very intelligent. Upon this the gentleman w
crestfallen, but he still insists that there ;
mediums who are not impostors ; and that 1
diums in Chicago who produce spirit portr:
genuine.
A full and very interesting account of
242 MATERIALIZATION.
IS given in the San Francisco Examiner of March 3
and 4, 1907.
♦ ♦ *
I could report enough cases of materialization to
fill a volume. These I know of, from various sources,
and in every case they were invariably fraudulent. I
will give a short account of a materialization which
a very expert medium, who is on friendly terms with
me, witnessed. The gentleman was originally a min-
ister, and afterwards began investigating spiritualism,
as he was a believer in it. He hoped to become a me-
dium ; and at one time paid two lady mediums of some
renown, who reside in Chicago, three dollars a sitting
for three sittings a week. These sittings were con-
ducted for the purpose of developing this gentleman
in mediumship. He continued this for a long time,
but was no nearer to being a medium than he was in
the beginning.
At one time he detected one of the sisters passing
a slate to the other, and substituting another in its
place. He saw the edge of one of the slates pro-
truding from behind the dress of one of the sisters.
They never knew they were discovered as he said
nothing, but this "opened his eyes." After this he
investigated everywhere, and at every opportunity, and
grew to be a very expert medium himself.
Recently, when in Los Angeles, he visited a seance
conducted by a medium who claimed to be a Buddhist
priest. This medium was known under the name of
"The Reverend Swami Mazzininanda." He had an
altar in his home, constructed something like those
in Roman Catholic churches. He had various candles
and images on this altar, including an image of Bnd*^
dha, and also a number of mystical figures. It was a
MATERIALIZATION.
243
great mixture of "fake'' Buddhism, Roman Catholi-
cism, and modem spiritualism. The medium also
wore the costume of a Buddhist priest at his seances.
This "priest" held services here for the faithful. He
conducted all in Hindoostani( ?), his native tongue.
He chanted, prayed to Buddha, etc., all in a queer-
sounding "gibberish.'' Certain evenings of the week
were devoted to "soul-travel/' and certain evenings
after the religious services a "Black Chapter'' was held.
The gentleman whom I have mentioned attended
one of these dark seances. He sat with other spec-
tators around the room in perfect darkness. The spec-
tators were not required to hold hands, so great was
their faith. Finally, in the darkness, a queer-looking,
vapor\% luminous form floated around in the air and
paused in front of the spectators. My friend slipped
down quietly on his knees, and gradually worked closer
and closer to the luminous form, until he could detect
that the vapor was a kind of luminous "cheese cloth."
He did not desire to expose this "priest," but he de-
sired to have the "priest" know that some one had dis-
covered him. My friend accordingly took hold of the
gauze and gave it a very slight downward jerk. He
then immediately returned quietly to his seat.
There was an immediate pause in
the "priest," who had really been flo
the end of a stick. Every one km.
had happened, but no one but my fi
was. The "priest" then said in Wf
centric and measured toni".. "11
great shock; and I will ^ ible
this evening." The m . '
with some of the "foithi
pecuKar manner of q>eal^
111
course of
form on
)mctliinj^
^ what it
iliar, cc-
I a very
'uriluT
»ation
I his
icst-
244 MATERIALIZATION.
ness, that which follows : "Last night I received a very
great shock. I was just in the middle of the *Dark
Chapter' and the spirit of the Master, Krishna, was
out. Having spent the greater portion of my life on
the Himalayas, my right eye has become injured by the
snows." Then pointing to his right eye, he added,
"My right eye has a defect in it which you can not see ;
but on account of that, I can only see in the dark with
it. I immediately turned my right eye downward and
I looked! I distinctly saw a lady's hand reached out
towards my robe in the darkness, and this hand took
hold of it and jerked it lightly just like this/' The
"Reverend Swami" here illustrated, by slightly jerk-
ing his coat downward. It was very amusing to hear
him, in great seriousness, relate this in his low and
measured accents to his faithful followers.
Shortly after this, when the Los Angeles Herald
was conducting a crusade against the numerous me-
diums of that city, and when it had an exhibit in its
windows of the confiscated material of some of them,
this "Buddhist priest" was arrested and imprisoned for
some of his practices.
THE RELATION OF MEDIUMSHIP TO
PALMISTRY, ASTROLOGY, AND
FORTUNE-TELLING.
THERE is one feature of tnediumistic work which
can not be taught to any one, but depends entirely
on the natural tact and the personality of the medium.
This is what is known to professionals as the ability
of a medium to give a reading. This consists in
adroitly revealing to the subject many things that ap-
pear to fit into his hfe. It is the capacity for shrewd
guessing, and of adapting one's revelations to the re-
plies and conversation of the sitter, so as to impress
him with the idea that the medium possesses a mys-
terious and occult power of seeing remote and hidden
events in the former's life and of reading the future.
If a medium be very expert at this, as sometimes is
the case where he has had long and continued prac-
tice, it is unnecessary to resort to any Iri
than this. In such cases the inediuj
marvelous talcs of what has bi^^^^told in
that such medium will do a thr^^^nisim^s
place for years and will nev^fa^^^K in any trick.
Mediums, when speaki
make such remark* h"
reading," or. "She nc^ ^^^^^bjDod reel-
ing," etc They rate ^^^^Hfen* by the
246 RELATION OF MEDIUMSHIP TO PALMISTRY, ETC.
ability of each to give a reading. This is the very
foundation of all mediumistic work, and tricks are but
an accessory to the art.
This same power or ability, is the underlying feature
of palmistry, of modern astrology, and of fortune-
telling. The underlying, and in fact the principal,
feature of all of these, and of mediumship as generally
practiced, is absolutely this same unteachable thing.
This forms the ground work, as it were, of the whole
business, and can be acquired only by continued prac-
tice. In the practice of the business, necessity develops
this faculty.
There is a demand among a certain class of persons
for fortune-telling under a modem name, and they
will pay for it at any time they can get it. There will
always be those who will avail themselves of this de-
mand, for the purpose of making a living out of it.
The reader will doubtless have little idea of the number
of persons following this profession. Detective Qif-
ton R. Wooldridge of the Chicago Police Department
in a published report says, "War against the swind-
lers, impostors, and blackmailers who operate in Chi-
cago under the guise of clairvoyants, trance mediums,
astro-psychics, palmists, magicians, and fortune-tellers,
of whom there are about 1500 in Chicago, is being
vigorously prosecuted."
Many mediums combine palmistry with their work,
but this class of "workers'' do not pander to the gen-
uine spiritualists, who accept spiritualism as a religion
or philosophy. One medium told me that it would
surprise me to know the number of persons who come
to them and want their assistance in love matters, in
unearthing buried treasure, in forecasting the future^
RELATION OP MEDIUMSHIP TO PALMISTRY, ETC. 247
etc. In fact, the most of their money comes from this
class of persons.
I am acquainted with a young medium who com-
bines palmistry with mediumship, and I shall give a
little further on, the method which he constantly uses
with great success. He at all times has in his pos-
session a large number of cards bearing the questions
and names of his patrons, which these latter wrote
out; and who now think that the cards were burned,
These frequently contain confessions and even ques-
tions so indiscreetly worded as to reveal to the reader
the innermost secrets of the writers' lives. It would
be a great surprise to any one to read over a number
of these signed questions.
This medium presented me with a collection of these
original cards, that are as interesting as a romance.
I will not quote any of the more interesting or amusing
ones for certain reasons, but I will quote one question
or set of questions which reveals the "fortune-telling"
ability required of a medium. These questions were
written by one of the most intelligent of the medium's
patrons who had been ^^^^^^^H^* ior twenty
years. I will omit the n
"Three different men within
me attention. of Boone.
and of Ogden,
which should I cullivfir
band, and will he be ki'
me, and are his attent^
shall I do next vear ?
The abo\'e is qw
my possession. U
248 RELATION OF MEDIUMSHIP TO PALMISTRY, ETC.
(like most of the others) should more properly have
been addressed to a fortune-teller.
* * *
Before giving the method of the medium above
referred to, I will state that he makes out a chart
for each patron. He has the blanks printed and
mounted in a tablet, and he fills out one of these for
each sitter. I will first describe the chart. The sheets
are eight and one-half by eleven inches. The left
half of the lower half, contains the chart, while the
right half of the same contains the name(?) of the
medium. The upper half of the sheet is left blank,
and on this the medium prepares a likeness of the
sitter's palm. This is done in the following manner:
The medium has a vessel on the table containing some
cold cream, such as is used for chapped hands. He
first rubs some of this over his own right palm. Next
he takes the sifter's hand and rubs his right palm
over it until it becomes coated with a small amount
of the cold cream.
He now spreads the chart over the head of an ordi-
nary tambourine, and has the sitter place his palm on
the upper portion of the chart, to spread the fingers,
and press the palm tightly down on this sheet. While
the sitter's palm is on the sheet the medium outlines
the hand and fingers with a lead pencil. The sitter
now removes his palm, leaving the outlines of the
hand on the paper defined by the pencil marks.
Next, the medium takes a small brush or pepper
box, and dusts over this impression of the hand,
some Pnissian blue, a powder which he usually has
in a vessel on the table. The blue powder adheres to
the cold cream and then the paper is dusted off. There
will be found to be an exact impression of the sitter's
RELATION OF MEDIUM5HIP TO PALMISTRY, ETC. 249
palm on the paper, with every "line" defined very ac-
curately.
Here is a copy of the blank form printed in the
lower left corner of the chart :
"birth month.
VOUR life's HARMON v.
Your Lucky Figure is .... or any number
that can be divided by it.
Your Lucky Day is
Your Lucky Stone is
Lucky Year
Your Lucky Months are
Direction of Journeys You Will Take and
the year taken
Your Lucky Color is
You will positively live to be years
of age, and probably years older,
unless you commit suicide. This is your
Creator's design, printed, promised, and
guaranteed in your hand.
(Should you call again, please bring this hand with
you as it will then cost you nothing.)"
I shall now describe how this young medium and
palmist gives his readings. He has each sitter write
on a card a number of questions which the latter de-
sires to have answered, and he also has Jl|^6iil)jcct
sign his or lier name to them. These af^^^K cards
of a size of three by four and a quart
The writinR is done on one side only
is folded each way with the writing ilCi^^^^^^lluis
about one and one-half by '
patron sits at a table whili
the medium approaches tli
He reaches and takes the
fingers and proceeds to gn
250 RELATION OF MEDIUMSHIP TO PALMISTRY, ETC.
his left fingers. Now just as he does this, he leans
fonvard, looking intently into the eyes of the sitter,
and asks, "Now my dear madam, did you write your
name on this card?" He does this so earnestly and
intently, that no one can help glancing into his face
and answering. At the instant that the sitter glances
up he quickly draws, with his left thumb, the original
card back into the left palm, and pushes a duplicate
forward into his right fingers. This move does not
require a second ; and just as the sitter answers, the
medium brings the right fingers containing the sit-
ter's ( ?) card up against his forehead. He shudders,
and then turning his right side towards the sitter,
places the card against the sitter's forehead, and asks
the sitter to place his palms against the medium's
right hand and his own forehead. At this time his
left hand goes into his left pocket on his side away
from the sitter, to get a match with which to bum the
card ; and he secretly leaves the question card in his
left pocket.
He brings out the match and says, "I will bum this
question." Suiting his action to the word, he strikes
the match and lights the dummy card, placing it on
a dish where it burns to ashes.
Next, the medium prepares the impression of the sit-
ter's hand, before described, which operation greatly
interests the latter. Just as he finishes the preparation,
he takes the sheet in his right hand, and holding it
near the bare floor, dusts off the surplus powder.
Now as he docs this his left hand secretly gets from
his left pocket the original question. When the chart
is dusted off, he passes it into his left hand front side
to the left, and grasps it with the left fingers con-
RELATION OF MEDIUMSHIP TO PALMISTRY, ETC. 25I
taining the card under the sheet. The card is now
effectually concealed.
The medium now goes to his chair on the opposile
side of the table, and with his right hand takes from
the table a small "blotter pad," with leather corners
for slipping blotters into. This pad is such as is
used for holding a blotter on an office desk to prevent
the latter from becoming scratched, but this pad is
of the exact size of the chart sheet. He brings this pad
into a vertical position in front of him, and then with
his left hand inserts the corners of the chart under the
leather comers of this pad. The pad of course pre-
vents the sitter seeing the sheet, as well as the con-
cealed question card. He inserts the card in one
comer, opening it out. He now appears to study the
hand -impression for a while, meanwhile secretly read-
ing the question and memorizing it. During this time
he fills in an occasional blank on the chart, and asks
the sitter certain questions relative to the date of his
birth and such matters. Having now thoroughly
memorized the question and name, the medium takes
the pad in his left fingers and draws out the chart
sheet with his right fingers.
His left fingers keep the card under the leather
holder across the corner. He then turns the pad upside
down, laying it an tlie tabi
the chart on this and finishn^pHng ii .>nt. As iIk- pad
is inverted, tlic card 4^
The medium fills oQt'
sitter. The pad bei
table from the sitter
under it. is out of
M'hiic the sittw
up a city direcKB;
252 RELATION OF MEDIUMSHIP TO PALMISTRY, ETC.
can from it. He knows the subject's name; and in
some of the smaller cities the directories furnish much
information, even giving the various marriage licenses
issued, with their dates and other details. As the
medium has 'removed the backs or cover from this
directory and put on it the back from a book on
"Mental Psychics," or something of the kind, he can
open this book without creating a thought of suspi-
cion in the mind of the subject. Now, laying his book
of "Mental Psychics" on his pad, he goes around to
the sitter, and, grasping the latter's h^d, gives a
splendid reading ; elaborating on his knowledge of the
sitter, giving the latter's name, occupation, etc., and
answering all of his written questions in detail.
This is one of the most practical and best methods
of giving a reading in existence. This secret has never
been published before, is unknown to the dealers, and
has never been sold.
PERFORMANCES OF THE ANNIE EVA
FAY TYPE.
I HAVE recently met a medium who for some years
traveled with a lady giving stage performances of
the Annie Eva Fay variety. In this performance the
spectators write questions which they desire answered,
sign their names, and retain them. A lady who sits
on the stage calls out the names of the respective
writers, answering their questions in detail without
seeing them. The spectators usually write on paper
which is on tablets furnished by the company : but
sometimes they write on their own paper, or bring
their questions with them, havini; writk'U tliem at
their own homes before leaving, -'^"n
answers some question thai snmc s]
write, but of which he is simply tliir
Kmietimes locates Inst or slolcn arlic-1
The tablets furnished llic s]M'iiaii
Lhave the surface sheet on wliirh I hi
Ijyided into four sections; ;uiil la.li
1 oS. as if niarkin.tr where eaili
his slip after writiiit; his <\\
•^lors there are a nnnilKT 'if
St tablets, each in Ins mv
fter th*" uritini:; thev ;:nil
» the attend;
inu-s the lady
ru..r di.l not
1^,'. She also
In write nn.
are to write,
ilrxi i-; partly
uetalrn- is to
i'>n. Among
ten<l;ni!s wlio
:eeli..n of the
254 PERFORMANCES OF THE ANNIE EVA FAY TYPE.
from aisle to aisle in the rear of the audience, where
they secretly exchange them for "dummy" tablets
which are then carried down and deposited in a pile
on the stage near the foot-lights. The originals are
sent around secretly under the stage.
The tablets are prepared as described elsewhere in
this work, by having a sheet in each tablet, which has
its imder surface coated with white wax. The gentle-
man referred to had, at each performance, to develop
a large number of questions in a very short space of
time. Usually some two dozen tablets were passed
to the spectators, and generally four questions were
written on the surface sheet of each tablet. As each
spectator tore off his section of the surface sheet after
writing, no two impressions were ever superposed.
He always places the prepared sheet in the tablet,
so as to be the third sheet below the surface sheet,
on which the spectators are to write. It transfers a
good impression to the sheet next under it neverthe-
less, and the spectators in retaining their questions
have in their possession only unprepared paper. The
prepared sheet can thus be used over and over again ;
and it might be called a "white carbon" sheet, as it
practically takes the place of an ordinary carbon sheet.
This gentleman uses a paper that is fairly highly
glazed, but nothing like the paper known as "onion
skin/' Xeither is it very transparent or porous. A
proper paper is of the utmost importance, but he
could not tell me the best make to use. He could
not find the variety he prefers in this city, but he
found some that works nicely. This is stamped on
the tablet, "The King's Crown." He prefers to use
undiluted paraffin wax. He takes a large cake of it
and trims off the hard surface smoothlv, then holds
PERFOkMANCES OF THE ANKIE EVA FAY TYPE. 255
the cake over a lighted lamp for a moment, moving it
about until the mere surface of the wax is very
slightly softened. He now rubs this over one surface
of the sheet while it rests on a smooth surface. He
applies considerable pressure ; and after rubbing it
thoroughly he takes an ordinary "case knife" and
scrapes off all surplus wax. He now again rubs the
sheet over lightly with the cake of wax, and then
smooths it up by rubbing with his palm. He does
this until he gets a fine surface that no one can tell is
prepared.
This sheet he places in position in the tablet, fasten-
ing it with library paste. The older it gets the better
it works, as the wax gets harder with age. He ijives
the hardness of this wax, as his reason for preferring
it to spermaceti wax. This sheet gives a fine im-
pression of the writing and I must say it works splen-
didly.
He prefers plumbago to any of the powders for
developing. He says this is on account of the weight
of it, as this feature causes it to adhere to the wax
better. He also prefers this powder because it slips
off the paper so easily, leaving the sheet pcrfi>cti>-
clean except where the '
a vessel under the stage containtflj
takes each impression sheet, a
vessel at an angle of forty-five d
spoonful of the powder on its 1
der runs down to the bottot'i
into the vessel. The shc^'
cept the writing is i
mixes a little powdered
when he can not get a N{>
is merely to blacken the
256 PERFORMANCES OF THE ANNIE EVA FAY TYPE.
bago gives it the weight. His impressions are much
plainer than the original writing ; and I must say, after
witnessing him develop some of these, that I prefer his
method to any other. He can develop all of the sheets
and hand them to a confederate at a telephone in a
period of five minutes.
The man at the telephone reads the qnestions and
names into it. This latter is connected to two ordi-
nary wire nails that are driven through the stage floor
from above. The lady on the stage has a receiver
such as telephone operators use, (with the head portion
removed) concealed under her hair, which is dressed
low with two curls over the former. Wires from it
lead down, under her clothing through her shoes to
copper plates on their soles. She merely places a foot
on each nail head when she takes her seat, and she
thus hears all of the questions and names distinctly.
This method is superior to the original method wherein
the lady was enveloped with a sheet which reached to
the floor, and then a speaking tube was pushed up
through the floor, under the sheet, to a position near
her ear. It is also superior to the "foot telegraph,"
which has been employed on occasions.
Sometimes, during the performance, the lady reads
questions which the subjects wrote on their own paper.
This is called hy soiiio [ ht formers "reading the house
questi^|J^||m^rea^u7i iliat the writers of the ques-
I IhLTi at their own houses.
1 spi'ct^iinr in "his section of
■ lion" in his hand.
i own paper, this
The attendai
me from the
1
PERFORMANCES OF THE ANNIE EVA FAY TYP
manager, or from some other prominent person. He
sends it around, together with the spectator's occu
tion, if possible. A directory is also handy nnder n
stage and this is consulted ; and the name, and all ir
formation is telephoned up to the lady on the stage.
Now, during the performance, as the lady answers
each spectator's question, an attendant steps to this
person; and while the lady is reading and answering
it. he says to the spectator, "Let me see if she gets
right." He generally takes the question out of ti
spectator's hand for an instant, and then returns .
Now, when the lady begins, by calling the name of t^
writer of a "house question," an attendant immediat
steps to this person and either catches a gUmpse of
the question, or asks to see it as in the other cases
If he takes it. he instantly returns it. Meanwhile tht
lady on the stage lias given the spectator his name, has
tokl him his business, and has given hime some whole-
some advice, etc. She seems to have difficulty in read-
ing his question, however, and the floor-manager di-
rects her to "go to something else and not to keep the
audience waiting, but to come back to this question
later." This she does.
Now this attendant has in his right coat pocket a
small tablet and pencil. With his hand in this pocket,
he secretly writes the spectator's question on a sheet.
tears it off and folds it up so it is small, ifc is usually
in the rear of the aisle while doing this. The floor-
manager now happens( ?) to pass him. an<l he secretly
passes this copy to ihe latter. The 11 nor -manager next
, passes down the aisle to the font liplits and allows his
hand to rest on the stage just hack of the
ny" tablets. Here there is a slight crack in the
irough which he secretly slips the (|uestion to
258 PERFORMANCES OF TH]£ AKNIE EVA FAY TYPE.
a confederate under the stage, while he is addressing
the audience in relation to what the lady is doing.
In a short time the lady states that this former spec-
tator seems to keep coming to her, that "she can not
get him out of her mind," and that she "gets the im-
pressions that he wants to icnow so and so," according
to what his question is. She now answers it for him.
Sometimes there is a "run-down" from the stage,
and in such cases the floor-manager allows his hand
to rest carelessly on it while talking to the spectators.
In such cases there is a confederate concealed under
the "run-down" who receives the question when the
floor-manager secretly slips it through a crack in the
former, and he passes it on to the man at the tele-
phone.
Some performers still use the old prepared pads that
have a carbon sheet concealed within them, but I
think the method given here is the very latest. The
lady soon learns the nature of the majority of the ques-
tions asked, and can thus frequently mention questions
that certain persons in the room are "thinking of and
have not even written." This always makes a "big
hit** : and then, when some confederate in the audieaoe
who has been paid to lose some valuable at tim/t defr*
nite place, receives an answer to his query tdling bun
where it can be found, and a committee goes out and
finds it, the reputation of the performer is made iai
the performance is well attended after that.
It would surprise many to know how many Teally^
intelligent persons take these performances seriously.
A lady has recently given a "two weeks stand^ with
this performance in Omaha, and has packed her hall
regularly. An attorney in my block had his 'liOttse
question" read and is very enthusiastic. He assures
PERFORMANCES OF THE ANNIE EVA FAY TYPE. 259
me that his question never left his hands at all ; but
I know that it did, for I am well acquainted with the
lady's manager, and know her "system" well. The
receiver which she wears is held in position just above
her ear until the manager blindfolds her. He then
secretly draws it down over the ear together with the
hair covering it, and binds it there. When he takes
off the bandage it is drawn back in place by some con-
cealed elastic.
VEST TURNING.
SOMETIMES when a medium is left in a cabinet
with his hands tied together and the knots sealed,
his vest will be found to be turned wrong side out
under his coat when the manifestations are over.
Also, when a subject is left in a cabinet with a
medium and his hands ate tied behind him and sealed,
the subject's vest is sometimes turned wrong side out
under his coat, neither coat or vest being removed.
This at first sight seems impossible; but it is as
simple as "working" a toy puzzle. I will first explain
how to turn a gentleman's vest when his hands are
tied behind him.
A gentleman should be selected, if possible, who is
not too heavily built, one whose coat and vest are not
made of too heavy material, and that fit loosely ; as
with these the work can be done more rapidly. After
the subject's hands are tied together behind him, the
medium steps behind the subject, and, taking his coat
by the collar, draws it down and from over his shoul-
ders so that it is entirely removed from his body, and
is merely supported by his two arms which pass
through the two sleeves. Next the vest is brought into
the same position as the coat. In this position the
coat is under the vest, both are merely on the subject's
arms behind him, and both have their wrong sides
uppermost.
VEST TURNING. 261
Now, before the vest can be turned, it must first be
separated from the coat and drawn upon one arm and
the coat must be drawn upon the other arm. To do
this, it is necessary to pass the coat entirely through
one arm-hole of the vest.
I usually pass the coat entirely through the right
arm-hole of the vest. The right sleeve of the coat is
drawn through first, then the body of the coat, and
after this the left sleeve of the coat. As this is done,
it is necessary to move the vest over the coat to the
left. This brings the vest on the subject's left arm
and it is now ready for turning.
Al that is necessary in turning the vest is to reach
the hand through the left arm-hole and grasp the
lower right front corner of the vest and pull it up
through the left arm-hole, drawing it as far as can
be done. Next, again reach the hand through the left
arm-hole of the vest and this time grasp the left front
comer at the bottom and draw it up through the left
arm-hole as far as possible. The entire vest has now
passed through its left arm-hole and the vest is turned.
Next comes the task of replacing the vest. It must
first be placed in its original position over the coat, so
it is necessary to now pass the coat through the right
arm-hole of the vest. The moves are just the reverse of
the moves that were used when it was passed through
in the first place. As soon as the vest is over the coat
on the arms it can be drawn up over tlie subject's
shoulders into position as when worn. It is now
wrong side out, and the coat is next drawn up over
the shoulders of the subject into its usual positior
over the vest as when worn. The vest is now und'
the coat, and both in their natural positions, excq
that the vest is wrong side out.
262 VEST TURNING.
If any one will place a vest without any coat upon
a common broom-stick, and reach through either arm-
hole and draw through first the far lower front comer
of the vest, and then the near lower front comer, the
vest can be turned wrong side out in this manner, and
the reader will immediately see the possibility of the
trick; and that it is necessary to first get the vest
upon one arm by itself in order to do the tuming.
To turn one's own vest, the hands must be tied in
front of one, and with suflicient length of string to
allow some eight inches of play. Now it is only neces-
sary to "shed'* the coat and vest over the head upon
the arms in front of one, when the same maneuvers can
be gone through as in the other case. After tuming
and replacing the vest over the coat, the medium can
give the coat and vest a toss over his head and slip
into position again with them on his person; but the
vest is now wrong side out.
AN IMPROVED BILLET TEST.
THERE is an improvement on the old-time trick
known as "Washington Irving Bishop's Sealed
Letter Reading." I will give a description of how it is
worked. The operator requests each spectator to write
on a slip of paper given him a question which he de-
sires to have answered ; and to fold the same a certain
number of times with the writing inside.
The operator now gathers up these billets on a tray
and places them on a table in full view of the company.
However, just before gathering up the billets, the
operator conceals a folded blank billet between the
ends of his first and second fingers ; and while gather-
ing up the billets, he leaves this blank on the tray
with the others, and secretly purloins a genuine billet
in its place. The blank is folded somewhat differently
from the others so that the performer can tell at a
glance which one it is.
The performer now retires to another room to bring
a glass of water before beginning this "trying work."
and while out he opens and reads the question. He
quickly memorizes it, folds it again, secretes it be-
tween the ends of his fingers, and returns to the
parlor.
He now faces the spectators, siamlins^ hdiind tin-
table on which are llic billets, lie m-xl takes up a
264 AN IMPROVED BILLET TEST.
genuine billet from the tray, and pressing it against
his forehead, proceeds to answer the question but not
to read it. Let us suppose the question is. "Will I
take a trip to Chicago next summer?" The operator
instead of reading this question, proceeds something
like this: "I get an impression of an answer which
seems to be, 'Yes, if walking is good.' Now that
sounds queer, doesn't it? I wonder what kind of a
question that can be ?" Suiting the action to the word
he opens the billet and reads the question.
Let us suppose this second question to be, "When
will I be married?" The operator, instead of reading
it aloud, repeats the first question which he secretly
read when outside getting water. He remarks, "Will
I take a trip to Chicago this summer?" audibly, as if
// were on the billet, and then folds the latter again.
Meanwhile he has secretly memorized the second ques-
tion.
When folded, he apparently takes the billet out of
his left hand with his right fingers, and hands it to
the writer. In reality he palms the one just folded,
and taking out the first billet, he presents it to its
writer. The spectators do not know that he now has
another billet in his left palm. He next picks up
another billet with his right hand, and placing it to
his head, says, "I get an answer which sounds like,
*It looks a long way off.' Now that is a queer answer,
isn't it? I wonder what that question is." He again
opens the billet, reading and memorizing the third
question secretly, and at the same time pronouncing
verbally the second question which was, "WTien will
I be married ?" He now folds the third question, and
when appearing to take it out of his left hand with
the fingers of his right, again takes out the palmed
AN IMPROVED BILLET TEST. 265
duplicate, presenting it to its writer. He proceeds in
this manner, being always one billet behind in his read-
ing, and leaves the blank billet until the last.
When he comes to this blank he does not open it at
all, but reads and answers it while pressing it against
his forehead. He now "shifts" it in his palm, and re-
turns the last genuine billet to its writer, retaining the
blank concealed in his palm. I believe the credit for
this improved method belongs to Mr. Edward Bene-
dict
I
1
APPENDIX.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN INQUIRERS AND MR. ABBOTT THROUGl
THE COLUMNS OP "THE OPEN COURT."
MEDIUMISTIC SEANCES.
Letter to Mr, Abbott.
Dear Sir:
I had the pleasure, some time ago, of reading" ar
article of yours in The Open Court on "Mediumistic
Phenomena." Of the following which I submit to you,
I feel that I will be satisfied with the explanations yon
may make. I am not a spiritualist, but while visiting
some friends in Kansas City, recently, who are spir-
itualists, I was invited to attend a "trumpet" seance
given at a private house. Out of curiosity I attended.
The seance was held in an unfurnished back room up
stairs. All the room contained was a row of chairs
around the wall. In the center on the floor was a small
rug on which stood a large trumpet and some flowers,
A lady clairvoyant from Topeka conducted the seance
In the circle were believers and unbelievers. We were
seated around the room with feet touching. Lights
were put out and we were in black darkness. Theji
said the medium was controlled by an Irish spirit
Presently the Irish spirit spoke through the trumpel
giving us a welcome greetmg. After this each one in
turn was spoken to by supposed dead relatives.
When it came to my turn, a sister who has been dead
APPENDIX.
*r
many years spoke her name and talked to me. {No
one in the circle knew anything about me except a
sister-in-law who was with me.) I had not been think-
ing of this sister, but of others whom it might be pos-
sible would appear, and my sister-in-law said, she had
not. I have no faith in it all, but would like your ex-
planation, if you will be kind enough to favor me with
it. I would like you to explain another thing. My
sister-in-law told me she had seen her husband, who'
died about a year ago. She said she saw him as
plainly as she ever did in life: that he came through
ihe front door, went right up to her, spoke a few words
and disappeared. This she declares to be tnie.
I will tell you of another instance. A daughter of
the sister-in-law of whom I have spoken, when quite
a little girl, saw my mother-who had died some time
before. She went up-stairs and in one of the rooms
she saw my mother sitting in a rocking-chair. She
ran screaming down-stairs, almost frightened to death.
At another time she saw her standing by tlie stove in
the room. This all seems very strange to me. but I
have no reason to doubt their word.
Very respectfully.
268 APPENDIX.
for fraud or tridcerv in manifestations of this nature.
I will further add that in all mv life I have been loc4c-
ing for things of this kind, and have never yet been
able to see one littie thing that was genuine. Always,
when I have been present, I have found a trick.
I have attended but one "Trumpet Seance," which
was some eight or ten years ago in Lincoln, Nebraska.
This was given at the home of a lady where the me-
dium stopped: and as the family was poor, the lady
was glad to have the medium's seances a success, so
that she might receive the proper financial remunera-
tion for his board.
The room was bare of furniture, and the guests were
seated around the room on chairs holding each other's
hands. The medium sat in this circle, and the trum-
pet stood in the center of the circle.
As soon as the lights were out the trumpet appar-
ently floated into the air, and from its mouth we were
greeted by an "Irish Spirit." This spirit attempted
to be a comedian : but his brogue was unnatural, and
his wit was so poor that I felt ashamed for the me-
dium. It, however, seemed to satisfy the majority of
the sitters, who appeared to be possessed of only ver\'
ordinary mental powers.
Tests were given to various persons present : but as
no one present knew anything about me, I, of course,
received no test.
I was satisfied that the medium held the tnimpet to
his mouth and did the talking. I knew that by point-
ing it rapidly in different directions, the voice would
appear to come from the various positions occupied
by the bell of the trumpet ; and the spirit would thus
appear to change places rapidly over our heads.
I felt certain that the persons sitting on each side
269
of the medium were his confederates, and that they
held the hands of the ones next to them ; but, of course,
released the medium's hands so that he could handle
the trumpet.
I was inclined to think that there were a goodly
number of confederates in the circle, who probably
shared in the proceeds of the seance ; for I foimd the
persons next to me would not let my hands loose for
even an instant. I felt sure that confederates took
possession of all strangers, and saw to it that their
hands were not released ; and thus they prevented acci-
dents.
To me it seemed merely a very cheap and poor trick.
I have never fancied any trick where the lights had to
be put out. It requires too little skill to perform such
tricks. I have always felt that if the spirits of the de-
parted could return to us mortals, they would not re-
quire a tin bom to talk through, and the entire ab-
sence of light-waves in the room. To me this all
savors too much of charlatanism, and that of the
cheapest kind.
Some time after I attended this seance. I had some
financial dealings with the daughter of the lady at
whose home this medium had boarded. I Inld the
daughter what I h
and she confess
I thus verified 9
told me that tt^
she intended I
soon thercafter.au
medium. I unde-i
cessful in the ln'
There is one ■
to considerable n
^ed in regard to tlu' matter.
jT^ht in every |inrlieular.
270 APPENDIX.
of this kind. This is the statement of the appearance
of your dead sister's voice, when no one in the room
knew of this sister except your sister-in-law who was
with you. In regard to this I cannot say positively
how the medium obtained the necessary information
in your particular case ; but I know the methods em-
ployed in securing such information by nearly all the
first-class professional mediums who are traveling over
the country.
Each medium keeps a record of all information ob-
tained in a book for that purpose. All questions asked
by any persons at any of the seances, are catalogued
alphabetically in this book under the names of the per-
sons asking them. Also the medium catalogues alpha-
betically any other information he may be able to ob-
tain about any of the persons who attend spiritualist
meetings. When visiting with the members and gos-
siping the medium quietly "pumps" each person about
other members. As soon as the medium is alone all
this information is catalogued in this book. Children
are questioned adroitly about their own relatives, and
about those of their neighbors and friends ; and all this
is added to the store of information.
Graveyards are visited and the secrets of the tombs
catalogued. Also, the old files of the daily papers are
searched for information relating to deaths and mar-
riages; and, by all these ways, in time the book con-
tains many tests of value to a medium. When this
medium leaves town, the book (or a copy) is passed
on to the next medium, who enters town equipped
with all the information previously gathered. Pro-
fessional mediums are generally pretty well known to
each other, although for obvious reasons they pretend
not to be.
Some of the better grade of mediums have an ad-
vance person, who. in the giitse of an agent of some
kind, visits the proper famihes. During the time he is
in each home, he asks for a drink of water ; and while
the lady is getting it, he studies the family Bible and
the album, or questions the children about such mat-
ters as will be of use to the medium who vi-ill soon fol-
low. In all of these manners much information is
secured in the course of time. It is not imiisual for 3
good medium to enter town with over a hundred good
tests for the citizens there.
In addition to the above there are certain members
of each spiritualistic community who make a business
of acting as confederates for mediums. They usually
receive pay for their services. You would be surprised
were you once behind the scenes, and a performer, to
know how many apparently respectable persons at a
seance are secretly confederates of the medium. These
confederates make it their business to learn all they
can of the family history of their neighbors, or of any
friends or relatives visiting their neighbors ; which in-
formation is at once conveyed to the medium, and the
same properly catalogued.
You would think that respectable persons would not
take part in fraud in such matters ; but they get into
it gradually, and really come to enjoy it. I am per-
sonally acquainted with a certain slcij;lit-nf-hanil per-
former in this city, who has for years served as a con-
federate for most of the nic<liunis visiiinsi this place.
He tells me that he enjoyed it at first, but being so
well versed in tricks, his services were of so nnich
value to mediums that they were after him to help
them out continually. This required su much of his
r
272 APPENDIX.
time that he has of late given up this work and now
refuses to attend seances at all.
In addition to these methods of obtaining informa-
tion, most members are so anxious to see some one
converted, that what information they possess is not
guarded from the medium very closely. In fact, they
seem in many cases to be trying to help the medium
out. They are all so anxious to see their medium
succeed ; and are very quick to feel proud of him, when
such tests are -given.
There can be little doubt but that the information
about your dead sister was obtained in some of these
manners from your sister-in-law or her family, espe-
cially if she has children. No doubt some confederate
has heard her mention your dead sister's name, in
some time past. This may have escaped your relative's
memory. Or, if she is a believer, she has undoubtedly
attended other seances, and asked questions, usually
written ones. If so, the mediums may have been in
possession of the proper information for some con-
siderable time.
I feel certain that this information was gained in
some such manner; and while you may doubt this
explanation, I feel that were I to go there and begin
operating as a medium, the confederates would soon
make themselves known to me; and that I could
quickly learn where the medium got her information
in your case.
You thought you were a stranger ; but you may rest
assured that you were known as soon as you entered
the room, and that a test was planned for you that
would make a sensation. And they probably hoped
also to make a convert.
It is probable that your dead sister bore the same
relation to your sister-in*]aw that yott do. If this
the case, and she being dead, your sister-in-law wo
have been almost certain at some meeting some tini
to have asked some question, which, within its liti
conveyed the information that there was such a p
son then dead.
It is a great advantage to mediums to be able t
give tests of this character; the effect being so gre
on those present and so convincing, it adds greatly
the medium's reputation, as well as to his finan
to be able to give such tests. As a result, a me
is always on the lookout for such information ;
makes securing it his principal employment when no
engaged at the regiilar work. You may rest assiirt
that a medium will not hesitate to use such informatio
in the manner you have outlined, no matter how he
may have come into possession of it.
Frequently, when such tests are given, the ones re-
ceiving them are so taken by surprise and so greatly
impressed, owing to their affection for the departed
and their longing to feel that the departed still exists
as an individual or tmit, that they imagine afterwards
that they noticed a resemblance in the voice, to that
of their dear one. I do not know whether or not yon
noticed such a resemblance to your sister's voice.
There are dealers who sell to mediums .iccrels which
give them instructions for performing their work. I
have bought many such secrets myself, paying a large
price for them : and I can assure you tlial 1 kiinw
what I am talking about in this instance.
The fact that dealers in such .secrets can l'"ll'i\v ihe
business successfully, is proof that thi-y rccuivc surti-
cient patronage to support it, and this ii;uninai;v comes
almost entirely from professional nH'<linnis.
274 APPENDIX.*
I could recall to you many instances of fraudulent
mediums, had I time and space to do so. I hope at
a future time to publish in The Open Court another
article, describing the work of some of the best me-
diums. If ever you come to Omaha, I should be
pleased to make your acquaintance; and would per-
sonally illustrate to you what may be accomplished
by trickery in this field.
As to the apparitions which your sister-in-law and
her daughter claim to have seen, there are but three
solutions possible.
First: There is the solution that the statement is
not true; but as you assure me you have every con-
fidence in their truth, I will not consider this solution.
Second and Third: We have the solutions either
that they did see what they claim to have seen ob-
jectively : or that they imagine that they did, but really
saw it subjectively. There is no professional medium
at work here, and consequently no trickery to explain.
If the doctrine of scientific men (as for instance set
forth in Dr. Carus's Soul of Man) be correct, each
object viewed throughout life leaves an impression
in our brain-structures. When such object is first
viewed, the form of the outside motions of the ether
(light- waves) is transferred to the proper position
within the brain bv the mechanism of the nervous svs-
tem. Here this produces a commotion and as a result
this commotion leaves a "trace** which is preserved in
the brain structure.
When such trace is being formed, the subject ex-
periences subjectively a sensation which he identifies
with the outside object producing it. The fact is the
formal features of the outside object have been trans-
ferred to, or reproduced in. the sensation. When next
the same object is viewed, the same nerve enei^
passes along the same channels into the same trace ar
stimulates or excites it again as was done in the first
instance. During this process the subject again ex
periences the same sensation as was experienced in
the first instance. The subject recognizes the sensa-
tion to be the same as the first one experienced, and
naturally attributes it to the same outside cause.
If, now, this particular trace in the brain structure
be artificially excited or stimulated by any means, the
subject will experience the original sensation, and will
perceive the object that originally formed such a trace.
The perception will be just as real to the subject as
was the original perception, or as it would be if the
exciting cause were the original object outside. The
original object could not produce a perception more
real to the subject, because it could only excite or
stimulate the same trace in the same manner; and the
subject would have no means to distinguish between
two identical impressions, although produced by differ-
ent causes.
It is due to such local excitements and stimulations
that we see objects in our sleep, just as real as if they
existed objectively in the positions in which our per-
ceptions picture them.
Now, if. from any cause, a highly-striinfi. sensitive,
or nervous person, stimulate or exeite any [larticular
trace in the brain -structure, he \vill sec siibjeirtivoly
but as perfectly real, ibe original object that formed
this trace. Such person is most liable to L-xcile in this
wav that portion of the brain wbereiu \(i ihe inia^a- «f
le dear one on whom the nu'nd hiis bwn .lwe!Iin<,'
intently ; and* which has thus been overworkeil, so
276 APPENDIX,
that the mechanism of this particular part of the sen-
tient substance has been weakened and impaired.
If we conclude that your relatives really saw these
dead persons objectively, this can only mean that these
dead persons were really present in this room. Now,
if they were clothed as in life, we must also conclude
that the clothing of persons as well as their spiritual
part is immortal. As Ingersoll said, we must conclude
that clothing has ghosts. But if we accept the theory
of a mere subjective apparition or illusion, caused by
a local excitement in the brain structures, we should
naturally expect the images to be clothed as in life.
The question is, which do you regard as most prob-
able: that your relatives really saw the spiritual part
of two beings objectively — that is, the part that is not
material, and that it had this material appearance— or
that they saw a mere subjective apparition within their
own brains? I should prefer the subjective theor\'.
I remain, dear madam, yours for truth,
David P. Abbott.
Second Letter of Mr. Abbott.
Dear Madam :
Since writing my former letter, it has been my good
fortune to come into possession of a little information
that might interest you ; accordingly, I write you this
second letter.
There recently arrived in Omaha two "Celebrated
Occultists." They hired a hall and some parlors, and
began a series of public meetings, seances, and private
readings. They had considerable difficulty in securing
rooms as the property owners were afraid of the repu-
tation their property might acquire of being "haunted."
Finally the papers came out with quite a sympathetic
article in their behalf, with the result that they have
started off very prosperously. There is an attendanc
of three or four hundred persons at their Sunda-
night meetings, while tliey have from thirty to fort
at the parlor seances : and during the day they are
continually employed giving private readings.
I called on these mediums, and was surprised to
find that the principal medium was the lady I formerly
knew in Lincoln, Nebraska, to whom I referred in mi
former letter. She has been rcguSarly in the profes-
sion for the past nine or ten years, has a good ac-
quaintance with all the professional mediums, and
comes direct from Kansas City, Missouri.
She recognized me at once, and seems to intend
making a convert of me. She has evidently forgotten
the Httlc confession she made to me just before enter-
ing the profession.
I had several little confidential visits with her man-
ager, and incidentally mentioned to him the name of
a certain dealer in secrets for the use of meiliums,
stating that I was familiar with most of the effects of
the kind, and was a performer of them. This seemed
to "break the ice," and he was readv enough to give
me any information he possessed about other mediums,
at the same time claiming that his medium was. of
course, genuine.
I find that the lady who gave the seance ynu wrote
me about is an acquaintance of theirs, Thuy know
her well, and her name is Miss - — — .
You will know if this be right and if my iiiformri-
tion be correct. He assured me that her iiieiliums]ii]i
> fraudulent, and informed me that slie has an arti-
:ial hand which she frequently uses in licr ■■'rni]n|H't
■>eances." This hand is attached to the person ami can
278 APPENDIX.
be bent into different positions. When she sits with
the subject next to her, she takes hold of the subject^s
two hands with her left hand, and, incidentally, does
not let loose of them during the seance. This is done
after the lights are out. Then she, with her remaining
hand, bends down the artificial hand (which has been
concealed in her clothing) , so that its fingers clasp the
arm of the sitter. The subject can then inform the
spectators at all times that the medium has both hands
on his person. Meanwhile, the medium's right hand
is free to grasp the light aluminum trumpet, and point
it into different positions while she talks through it.
She also, on occasions, uses a telescopic reaching-rod
which can hd carried in the pocket, but when extended
it reaches a length of several feet, and enables her to
float the tnimpet on its end around the room over the
heads of the spectators, giving them an . occasional
"bump," while her voice can be heard in the position
where she sits. This is done in the same manner that
guitars and other instruments (frequently self-play-
ing) are sometimes floated over the heads of a circle
of sitters by many mediums. This is done 'while they
apparently hold the hands of one of the spectators at
their side of the circle.
I asked the manager how he considered that the
medium got her information about your dead sister.
He replied that she undoubtedly got it from what is
known to certain members of the profession as the
"Blue Book." This is the book I referred to before
in which the tests are alphabetically catalogued for
each town. He said that his medium never .uses the
"Blue Book" as her mediumship is genuine ; but, how-
ever, he has in his possession a similar book of Kansas
City. I asked if I could find the information about
your dead sister in his book ; but he said that possibly
he did not have that partitidar item, ahhough there
could be no doubt but that it was contained in the
book of the lady or of the noted medium Mr. ,
as these two have worked together to a considerable
extent.
Tliere can be no doubt but that all the questions that
your relative ever asked the mediums in any of the
Kansas City meetings, have been preserved and cata-
logued: and thus the information about your dead
sister may have been obtained for some considerable
time. Although the medium was a stranger to you. it
is quite certain that you were known to the medium
when the seance began. This is part of their business,
and the knowledge of a suitable number of "tests" is
a medium's stock in trade.
I remain, dear madam, very truly yours,
David P. Adbott.
Inquirer's Reply to Mr. Abbott.
Dear Sir:
Your communication which 1 have just received de-
serves an early reply.
The name of the medium who held the seance was
, the same as you mentioned. I was introduced
to her but I never heard her given name. ( )f course,
she must be (he same one, I .>ia\v her and Mr. ■ at
a Sunday evening meeting at their hall, ^o you are ou
the right track.*
* Since (he above correspondence was fir^t published, I
have journeyed to Kansas Cily, Mo., and bnd n 'iitine wilh
the medium herein referred to. [ found htr iRTfr.rniaiHT 10
be a simple fraud.
After the seance I privately complimented her on Iht power
to modulate her voice, informed her 1 wa>: a ptrfnrmiT, ;ind
28o APPENDIX.
I do not see how any one can practice so much fraud
in such serious matters.
Thanking you for your kindness,
I am very respectfully,
A PUZZLING CASE.
Dr. Burgess to The Open Court,
One would hardly expect any proof of the future
life to reach his ear in the dark through an aluminum
horn. But if it was not what it purported to be, the
puzzle is to know what else it could have been. Like
your valued contributor, Mr. Abbott, I have usually
had little trouble in arriving at a solution of such
puzzles. But this one stumps me, and I should be
glad to have him help me out, if he will kindly do so.
For I am satisfied that the "spirit" in this exceptional
case did not inhabit the medium's body, and Mr. Abbott
seems as anxious as I am to be convinced that the
spirits of departed friends may really live without any
bodies whatever. It is a plain proposition that there
can be no life without wear and tear upon the means
of its production. To believe in the future life, there-
fore, one must confess that he believes in something
that utterly passes his comprehension. But we not
offered to give her some instruction if she should so desire.
She, seeing my knowledge of the profession, made no claim
to genuineness after this.
She said that if I could give her any instruction that would
aid her in making a living, that she would be very grateful ;
for she said that she had an invalid husband somewhere in
Colorado whom she had to support. I thereupon taught her
a slate trick which she accepted gratefully, and I left her
practicing it. I may have done wrong in increasing her pow-
ers of deception, but at least I satisfied myself as to her hon-
esty. — D. p. A.
ft
APPENDIX.
only believe in many uncotnpreh ended things but kiiL
them to be true. Just as we will believe in this tm
pet affair — that it was done by spirit agency — unL
some one can point out how else it could be doi
There will be doubting Thomases in any event ; b
the writer, with seventy-five years of life behind hi
cannot help feeling that he will soon be in a positio
to know the truth of the matter — or else to be lost
the depths of utter knownothingness.
The puzzling occurrence alluded to took place at
Ininipet seance which, for precautionary reasons, w;
held at my own house ; and the medium and membe
of my own household were the only persons preset
None of those present except myself had ever seei
the medium before, and I had simply met her once H
make arrangements for her coming. She was an in-
telligent, middle-aged woman of somewhat reserved
but agreeable manners, and she came alone to the se-
ance bringing no paraphernalia with her except the
trumpet. She never to my knowledge advertised her-
self or gave public seances.
She readily consented to be bound to her chair in
such a way as to effectually prevent any movement
of her hands or body, and the tapes she was bound with
were finally tacked to the floor so that the chair itself
could not be moved without detection. In fact, in the
stillness of the room it would have been impossible for
any person to move about without attracting atten-
tion. Having taken these precautions, it SL-emcd a
foregone conclu.sion that any trickery nr cnllvision with
confederates on the part of the mt-diiim was simply
out of the question.
The trumpet occupied a position several feet in front
of the medium, and after a tedious wail in the dark,
282 APPENDIX.
we were finally startled by hearing it move. Shortly
afterward faint whispers were heard through it which
soon became so strong as to be partly or wholly under-
stood. And now jocularity gave place to intense in-
terest, and the anomalous character of the proceedings
was lost sight of as the names of friend after friend
were feebly given. No one could help sympathizing
with them in their heroic efforts to be heard and under-
stood. And not all of these efforts were made through
the trumpet. Clearly some of the whisperings were
outside and independent of it
Not much of details will be necessary to my pres-
ent purpose. Suffice it to say that, one after another,
the trumpet came close to every onje of us, giving the
names of departed friends and relations most of whom
had never been within thousands of miles of San
Francisco. But the marvel was how the trumpet could
move about so rapidly and unerringly in the dark,
caressing us gently on the hands, cheeks, top of the
head and elsewhere, and occasionally dropping on the
floor with a thud as though the force which sustained
it was well nigh exhausted. Once, indeed, it fell near
me with sufficient force to drive the two sections of
it together so that I had to pull them apart again be-
fore the performance could be proceeded with. As
a further illustration of the mysterious forces era-
ployed, raps, some of them loud and jarring, were
occasionally heard upon the doors and walls of the
room in various places, and once the tall doors of my
bookcase were rapidly swung back and forth a num-
ber of times as if to make sure that it had attracted
attention. No person in the room was in a position
to have swung the doors or made the raps without
leaving their seats, and thus attracting attention. Many
remarkable things were said by the trumpet vo
I pass them by as merely cumulative evidenc
The puzzle is to account for the remarkat
of the trumpet which were as much or more m
fving than its sayings.
It is needless to add that when the lights •*
turned on the medium was found securely boim&
her place as we had left her when the lights w
turned out. O. O. Burge
A/r. Abbott's Reply.
I have read the communication of Doctor Burg"
and it is evident that he is quite critical, and that
case is worthy of attention. I have attended trun
seances quite recently, also rope- and tape-tying
ances. but have not attended a seance where the tw<
were combined.
I take it for granted that the persons present were
all so nearly related to the Doctor that the possibilitj' of
confederates being employed was entirely out of the
question.
.•\s the Doctor says, I should be glad to prove per-
sonal immortality in any manner if possible to do so,
yet I should want to be quite certain that there was
Tio resort to trickery in the case. I have investigated
so many cases and found so much fraud that naturally
I always expect to find it.
It would be no reflection on the Doctor, if lie were
deceived by a clever trick, for the most intelligent
arc easily deceived by an art witii which they are not
familiar.
It would be impossible fnr me tu fX|)l:[in tliu txact
method this medium used, unless 1 cmil.I sue Irt wnrk.
I can oniv describe work of a similar kind with which
284 APPENDIX.
I am familiar, and explain how it is done. I am aware
that this does not prove the present case to have been
clever trickery; yet if this work is duplicated fre-
quently by trickery, it is strong evidence that the me-
dium resorted to the same means in this case.
In regard to rope- and tape-tying, I will not enter
into a detailed explanation of the various tricks of the
kind used by professional mediums and conjurors, as
this would require altogether too much space. Suffice
it to say that the Davenport Brothers originated the
first rope-tying experiments. They were bound in
the most thorough manner, and left in their cabinet;
when the most marvelous manifestations would take
place as soon as the curtains were drawn. It was sup-
posed that spirits appeared in the cabinet through the
occult powers of the Davenports, and performed these
maneuvers in order to convince unbelieving mortals.
It was many years before the secret of their original
tie was discovered. I will refer the reader to the
work, The Spirit World Unmasked, by Henry Ridgely
Evans, for a full account of this.
Soon after the appearance of the Davenports, other
mediums experimented and invented many different
ties. Finally the conjurors took the subject up, and
the secrets of such ties became common property.
One has but to witness Kellar, the magician, on the
stage using his best spirit tie, to realize the possibilities
of this art. The committee tie his hands behind him
very tightly : yet he will instantly bring either hand
forward and exhibit it, place it behind himself, and
turn his back ; when his hands will be seen to be tied
together as tightly as ever. The committee think
that they tie his hands in their own way.
Yost & Company of Philadelphia, dealers in magical
apparatus, spiritualistic secrets, etc., advertise for s
the secrets of a tie which they call "Kellar's Best T
It is doubtful if any rope-tying experiments
performed were equal to that of the Davenports. 1
work was surely the greatest mystery of the kind ev
exhibited before the public. The following passag
I quote in full from The Spirit World Unmasked.
"In the dark seance, flour was sometimes placed
the pinioned hands of the Davenports. On being .
leased from their bonds, the flour was found undii
turbcd.
"This was considered a convincing test; for ho
could the brothers possibly manipulate the . musi
instruments with their hands full of flour. One da
a wag substituted a handful of snuff for flour, an
when the mediums were examined, the snuff had dis-
appeared and flour taken its place. As will be under-
stood, in the above test the Davenports emptied the
flour from their hands into secret pockets, and at the
proper moment took out cornucopias of flour and
filled their hands again before securing themselves in
the famous slip-knots,
".Among the exposes of the brothers Davenport,
Hermann the conjuror, gives the following in the
Cosmopolitan Magazine: 'The Davenports, for thirteen
years, in Europe and America, augmented the faith
in Spiritualism. Unfortunately for the Davenports
they appeared at Ithaca, New York, where is situated
Cornell University. The students having a sciontific
trend of mind, provided ihem.sclvfs hufore attending
the performance with pyrotechnic halls containing
phosphorus, so made as to ignite suddenly with a
bright light. During the dark seance whin ihc Davrii-
ports were supposed to be boumi liaml ami fnitt uiihin
286 APPENDIX.
the closet and when guitars were apparently floating
in the air, the students struck their lights, whereupon
the spirits were found to be no other than the Daven-
ports themselves, dodging about the stage brandish-
ing guitars and playing tunes and waving at the same
time tall poles surmounted by phosphorescent spook
pictures.' "
Tape-tying was not originated until after rope-
tying had become quite common. Annie Eva Fay
used a tie called "The Cotton Bandage Test." She was
seated on a stool which was placed against a wooden
post, the latter being screwed tightly to the floor.
Her wrists were bound tightly with cotton bandages,
and the spectators were allowed to sew the knots
thoroughly and place courtplaster over them. These
bandages were tied tightly together behind her and
fastened securely to the post, the knots being sealed.
She bewildered a committee of English scientists, yet
the secret of her tie is well known to conjurors at the
present time.
The reader can find a full explanation of this tie in
Shaw's Magical Instructor, or in the above-mentioned
work by Mr. Evans from which I quote the following:
"One of Annie Eva's most convincing tests is the
accordion which plays, after it has been bound fast
with tapes and the tapes carefully sealed at every
note, so as to prevent its being performed on in the
regular manner. Her method of operating, though
simple, is decidedly ingenious. She places a small tube
in the valve-hole of the instrument, breathes and blows
alternately into it, and then by fingering the keys, exe-
cutes an air with excellent eflFect."
There is a celebrated medium in Kansas Citv who
m
submits to a tie allowing the tapes sewed to the
carpet and com meal is placed in his palms, where
either it or other meal will be found after the per-
formance. The manifestations are very convincing,
yet recently a "spirit" was "grabbed" at one of his
seances, and it proved to be the medium. This was
written up in a daily paper there, as among those who
grabbed him was a reporter.
I have an acquaintance, an ex-medium, who is quite
expert at the tying tricks. He permits himself to be
tied to his chair, yet he can instantly release, and re-
place himself in the ties. It is very instructive to watch
him do this. There is no doubt but that a clever
artist, in the art of rope- and tape-tying, can instantly
release himself from almost any tie, and as quickly
replace himself.
Such being the case, the fact that the medium was
well tied in the Doctor's case can hardly be regarded
as evidential. While this lady may not have done so.
yet the probabilities are that she either escaped bodily
from the ties, later replacing herself: or, that she se-
cured the free use of her hands, so that she was en-
abled to perform the necessary maneuvers.
In case the lady escaped, she probably slipped around
the circle handling the trumpet. She could thus drop
the trumpet, recover it, whisper through it, etc. She
could also make the raps with it, or with a "telescopic
reaching rod," This latter is made of ;
when closed is but little larger than i
Such appliances frequently extend six fc^
when fully <Irawn out. Being of aUiin
very light. They have a hook on the e
into the handle of the trumpet v
floated.
Sometimes the rod is made
288 APPENDIX.
can then insert a small mouthpiece and whisper or
speak in the end of it. The voices will appear to be
at whatever location the farther end of the tube occu-
pies at this time. Sometimes this tube is inserted into
the small end of the trumpet: and in such cases the
trumpet can go very high in the room, even to the
distant corners, and at the same time have a voice
in it.
The reader will readily see that it would only be
necessary for the medium to get the free use of her
hands to manipulate this tube; and that she would
be able to produce the raps with the end of it, swing
the book-case doors, etc. As the tube is but little
larger than a lead pencil when closed, it would be very
easy for her to conceal such an appliance in her cloth-
ing, and as soon as her hands were free, proceed to
conduct the manifestations.
It would not be necessarv to leave her chair at all.
The aluminum trumpets are very light, and for this
reason they can be manipulated so that the touches on
the sitter's heads are but little more than a caress, and
it is very easy to manipulate them. They and the
telescopic tubes can be purchased at the mediums'
supply depots for a nominal sum.
The mediums who perform the most marvelous ap-
pearing work use the telescopic tubes very frequently.
They do not all submit to being tied but quite fre-
quently allow a sitter to hold their hands and feet.
This IS regarded as more convincing than if the me-
dium be trusted beyond the sitter's reach, although
he may be securely tied. In some of my articles I
have described these holding tests, and the little de-
ception by which the medium gains the free use of one
arm with perfect safety.
APPENDIX. 389
In some cases the medium has a cage of iron tubing,
or heavy wire lai^e enough to cover his person. He
is seated on a stool, and the cage is placed over him
and securely screwed to the floor. Wax is then placed
on the screw heads and sealed. The trumpet and other
articles are placed near the cage and all of the mani-
festations take place when the lights are put out. He
reaches the telescopic tube through the open-woifc oi
the cage and manipulates the articles.
I had an acquaintance with a medium who talked
through a trumpet very often. She informed me that
it requires considerable practice to talk well through a
trumpet and let no sound escape near the mouth. It
is an art of its own, as it were.
In some trumpet seances the lights are not put out
but merely lowered until quite dim. The trumpet is
laid on the floor in front of a cabinet, and voices issue
from it. This usually occurs at the medium's own
home. In such cases a concealed rubber tube lies
under a loose rug; and when the trumpet is laid on
the floor, this titbe is secretly slipped into the small
end of it. This tube nms into the cabinet where sits
the medium, who inserts a mouthpiece and docs the
talking. In case of the medium hearing any sudden
movement among the spectators, she quickly
the tube into the cabinet, and conceals it ta4
under her cloth infj.
In some cases the tninipet is hid c
of the cabinet and voices seem to issu
case there is no connection, but the medium ti^
inet has a second telescopic trumpet coiii->
her clothing. When the curtain is dropiivi
this tnimpet and extends it, holding '' 1
tain directly behind the other one, 1 In
290 APPBNDIX.
to listeners outside to issue from the trumpet on the
chair. This illusion is perfect, as the sounds have the
tone of the trumpet, are in line behind the one in view,
and the attention is directed to the trumpet on the
chair just as a ventriloquist directs the attention of
the spectators to his "figure."
I am digressing some, as these last methods could
not have been used in the case the Doctor describes;
but I believe the reader will pardon this digression,
for the sake of this additional information. While I
am dealing with the subject of trumpet seances, inde-
pendent voices and dark seances, I shall take the
liberty of describing some more work of this kind.
When a medium works in his own home, it is an
easy matter to have speaking tubes whose openings
are masked by picture moulding or other objects.
These lead to the confederate who can, by a system
of switches, send the voices into the room through
any or all of the tubes at will. Such sound appears to
come out of the very air and is difficult to locate. The
origin of sound is difficult to locate anyway, and in
such cases it is much more so.
At one time I heard a report of a case where inde-
pendent voices followed a young girl out in the open
air, and would on occasions converse with her. A
certain party accompanied her to a well, and heard a
voice speak out in the open air and address her. I do
not know if such report were entirely true or not, as
the opportunity to investigate the case was lost when
I heard of it ; but the idea occurred to me that it would
be very easy to lay a small iron pipe under ground
from a house, and have it terminate in a well near the
surface. Its termination could easily be masked and
a confederate in the house could send voices into the
i
top of the well at will. To one unacquainted i
secret, the voice would be extremely difficult to iocai
Of this I am certain, from some experiments I o
conducted, wherein I sent voices through some hv
dreds of feet of pipe which ran through a public hitcn
ing rack. Passers-by at the farther end would tht
themselves addressed by some one near them, am
would look around in a very foolish manner in searcl
of the speaker. We boys thought this great sport.
By this means, voices can be made to appear on a
lawn in the ojjen and will seem very mysterious to a
small party. A small half-inch pipe can be laid under
the ground near the surface and terminate under an
urn, the roots of a tree, or even in the grass just below
the level of the earth. It can be kept corked to pre-
vent moisture from entering when not in use, and if
the grass be a trifle long and the entrance of the tube
a trifle below the surface of the groimd, it would es-
cape discovery. Of course it should only be used in
the evening, in a dim light, and then used but spar-
ingly. If two or three of these were located in differ-
ent positions, and iise<l sparingly, marvelous reports
would go abroad of the myslerioiis voices heard in
the open air by persons when there. .Vfter using, the
cork should be re-inserted, a little mnist earth placed
over it, and the grass rc-arranged and Sfirinkled.
I have a letter from a gentleman in Oldtown, Ken-
tucky, who reports to me a seance where in tlic twi-
light he saw a trumpet move across the tioor, out into
the yard and up into the branches of the trcus. I have
the name of the medium who |)ro(hiccil lliis tiianitVsta-
tion. I do not know the means she iisid. ImiI I knmv
a means by which I have caused oiIkt articles to move
across the floor. The secret was a threa<l |)idled bv
292 APPENDIX.
a concealed assistant, and which of course was invis-
ible. If I were producing this manifestation, I should
lay a strong black linen or silk thread on the floor,
out of the door, on the lawn, and then up over a limb
in a tree. From there I should lead it to a concealed
assistant, who at the proper time should draw it in.
I would have a soft copper-wire hook on the end of
the thread, which I should secretly bend around the
handle of the trumpet when laying it on the floor.
When the trumpet should catch in the branches of the
tree, the assistant could, by pulling on the thread,
straighten out the wire hook, drawing it in, while the
trumpet would drop to the ground. In case the trum-
pet had no handle, a small hole near the rim would
attract no notice. The wire hook could be passed
through this hole. I have no doubt that this was the
means employed.
At one time I fitted up my home with a number of
mechanical rappers under the floor in different posi-
tions. The threads that operated them all entered the
room through some tiny holes in the floor back of a
couch. My wife lay on this couch, apparently resting,
and secretly manipulating the threads. I had most
marvelous raps which would seem to move to any
position asked for by the spectators, and would an-
swer questions intelligently. The effect was very
great, although I always afterwards informed my spec-
tators that it was not spirits. I had one set of strings
which caused a piano to voluntarily strike chords
when I should desire. I have seen nervous ladies
greatly frightened by these manifestations.
Mediums claim that spirits have a horror of light-
waves and that certain manifestations can onlv occur
in the dark. It is true that the manipulating spirit has
APPENDIX. 293
a horror of the light, and that certain manifestations
can only take place in the tlarkness. If any one Will
have the courage at such times, to suddenly flash a
pocket electric light on the trumpet, it will not be
necessary for him to be a performer in order to dis-
cover the secret of the manifestations. There is not
a reliable report in the country, where at any time any
one suddenly flashed one of these lights on a trumpet
seance, that he did not find the medium or the con-
federates at work producing the manifestations in a
very simple manner. It seems to me that if in any
instance such a phenomenon were genuine, there would
some time be a case where these exposers would find
something not a trick.
A lady medium from Lincoln, Nebraska, recently
informed me, that the dark seance is rapidly losing
prestige since the manufacture of the pocket electric
light. She said that these were being used on the
trumpet mediums all over the country with disastrous
results, and that the profession would soon have to
drift into other channels of trickery. She also told
me of a medium who uses his chandi-licr to bring
voices secretly into his room ; and that he hangs the
trumpet on the chandelier and the voices appear to
issue from it, while in reality they issue from a niq
ber of tiny holes in different parts of the chanc
I look at the ([uestirin of spirit communion »
in this manner: We all have a spirit 1
This spirit cannot pcrforni a physical miracle
to talk, nature has found it necessary to dev^
organs. Without those no living spirit can tall
move objects, physical contact and force are n. ■
Without these, no living spirit can move objec
should any disembodied spirit, (if such exist
294 APPENDIX.
to execute any act which it could not execute if in the
body ; or, in other words, why should it be able to per-
form a miracle?
The theory of certain psychic researchers whom I
know seems to be something like this: Spirits of the
dead can only manifest themselves through the organ-
ism of some person fitted for their control. Such
organism is what they term a medium; and they are
very doubtful about any physical manifestations be-
ing genuine.-
As to the information which the voices gave the
Doctor, I am not in a position to judge ; for I do not
know what opportunity the medium may have had
secretly to learn the history of those present. How-
ever, many tricks are used successfully, even in this
feature of the work. David P. Abbott.
SPIRIT PORTRAITURE.
Mr. Bennett to The Open Court.
To the Editor of The Open Court:
I am deeply interested in the articles by Mr. Abbott
about spirit mediums, because I have been investi-
gating in that line myself, and am now writing to ask
you to have Mr. Abbott explain a performance that is
done in Chicago. A man in this city went to a Mr.
B., a tnimpet and also clairvoyant medium of Chicago,
(he has been here and is one that I have criticized),
and in a seance his mother's spirit urged him to get her
portrait taken, as she was anxious for him to know
how she looked now. The medium told the man of a
lady in Chicago that could take spirit portraits, and he
called on her. He says he wrote on a sheet torn from
a new tablet that he carried with him asking his mother
295
if she would come and sit for her portrait, This sheet
he folded, and with two other blank ones torn from
the same tablet, put into an envelope and held it under
a book on the table. He had done all this by instruc-
tions from the lady, but she sat all the time clear across
the room from him. She talked several minutes on
other topics, then told him his message was ready.
On opening the envelope the two blank sheets were
written full, and zvifh ink. His mother consented to
sit. So the medium brought out a canvas about 18 by
30 inches stretched on a frame, and hung this on the
wall near the man and in front of him. Then the me-
dium retired across the room. Soon colors began to
develop on the canvas, and he says in just twenty
minutes by his watch the portrait was finished, all the
colors developing from a clean, white canvas before
his eyes, and no other person near. When he first
touched it the paint, or what not, was still green and
he blurred it. So he had to leave it a few days to dry be-
fore having it sent home. When it arrived it so pleased
him that he sent the medium's price. $40.00. He says
it does not resemble his mother when she died, (an
old lady), but thinks it resembles her when she was
about 35, and she assures him that it looks like her as
she is now.
I have seen the picture, and should call it an oil
painting of a verj' good looking wuman of about 35.
The medium who encouraged this man had met him
in this city, and also twice in Chicago at the medium's
home or office, and of course lie posted ihc artist me-
dium by telephone or otherwise as to the man's name,
his mother's name and otlicr matters. I think Mr.
Abbott has already explained how the writing is done
in the envelope. But how do they ilcvi'lop wh;it ap-
1
296 APPENDIX.
pears to be an oil painting from a clean canves right
before the purchaser's eyes? There is another por-
trait in this vicinity executed by the same Chicago
medium in the same way but I have not seen that
But I am told it is a fine oil painting. Now I wish
you would have Mr. Abbott explain this portrait paint-
ing, and expose these frauds that are being perpe-
trated on innocent people in your big city.
C. W. Bennett.
COLDWATER^ MiCH.
Mr, Abbott to The Open Court.
To THE Editor of The Open Court :
Your letter enclosing one from Mr.' Bennett came
duly to hand. I think I know the name of the medium
or mediums to whom he refers, as I have heard of
their work from other sources. I may be mistaken
as to this, as there are possibly others producing spirit
portraits ; but at least I have heard of only one "firm"
doing this style of work.
Now I have never witnessed the production of one
of their paintings, and to do so would be quite ex-
pensive ; so I could hardly tell the exact means they
use. However, I am familiar with some secrets which
are doubtless the »ame, or about the same, as those
that they employ.
I will first give a short account of the evolution of
the "art" of producing spirit portraits. Like all good
tricks, the secrets have been developed by a process
of experiment and gradual evolution.
At the beginning when mediums were able secretly
to secure pictures of the departed friends of some of
their subjects, they would first secretly prepare the
pictures and then produce them at a seance with very
APPENDIX. 297
Striking effect. At this time a cabinet was used in the
production of the pictures. The medium would allow
the cabinet to be very thoroughly examined ; and, if
a lady, would also allow a committee of ladies to
examine her clothing. Her attendant would then hand
her a blank canvas fastened onto a frame.
The medium would now exhibit this canvas to each
spectator at close range, showing both sides of it, and
would remind the audience that there were no appli-
ances in the cabinet or in her clothing. She would
then retire to the cabinet for a few moments, after
which she would come forth with the canvas still on
its frame, which could have been and frequently was
marked ; but on this canvas was now a portrait of the
"dear one" of one of the spectators. This portrait was
yet hardly dry.
It is needless to say that this always made a great
impression with ardent believers. The secret was very
simple. The painting was first prepared on canvas.
This canvas was then placed over a clean canvas, and
the two were tacked to a frame. The clean canvas
underneath kept the paint from showing through,
and from behind this appeared as an unpainted canvas.
Next, the medium tacked a clean canvas over the
picture and did it so neatly that no c^ne could detect
the deception. This was the canvas that she exhibitec*
to the spectators.
Now, on entering the cabinet, she simply pulled i
the top canvas, removed the few tacks that held
and secreted the same in a jxicket under her drf
As she had already had her clotliincf examined,
need not submit to a second examination afterwa
Now, under her clothint^, around her waist, w
belt next to her skin, this had a tiny pocket in it
298 APPENDIX.
taining a small phial of poppy oil. This escaped de-
tection on the examination, for the reason that the
medium appeared rather "modest" and the committee
did not make too close an examination of her under-
clothing. Now, after removing the top canvas she
secured the poppy oil and rubbed it over the painting.
Then, concealing the phial, she came forth from the
cabinet with the painting still damp.
Some mediums merely covered the painting with a
solution of zinc white and water. This effectually
concealed the picture, if only exhibited from a short
distance. This could be removed by the judicious
use of a damp sponge.
After this certain mediums invented a way to put
portraits on a slate, and then by adroit substitution,
to introduce this prepared slate into a stack of exam-
ined ones ; they could thus sometimes get for a sitter
a portrait of a departed relative instead of a message,
or they could produce both. Some mediums use a
very clever system of substitution of canvases, and
I have heard somewhere of a mechanical easel de-
signed especially for substituting them.
Now there was quite a demand for spirit portraits
that the subjects could see appear on the canvas be-
fore their very eyes. Believers are nez*er satisfied
and are continually looking for stronger and stronger
tests. The mediums are thus ever forced along the
road of improvement in their methods.
Mediums now began experimenting with chemicals,
to discover those that could be put on a canvas and
that would remain invisible until developed. A num-
ber of chemicals were found ; and the pictures formed
did not resemble those made with oil paints, for they
APPENDIX. »JfJ
were really mere chemical stains. They thus appeared
to be more "spiritual."
I will give the names of a few chemicals that have
been used in this manner. If a canvas of tinhlcachi-d
muslin have a portrait painted on it with the sohilinus
given below, it will appear to be unprepared, as the
chemicals will be invisible when dry. If sprayed with
a weak solution of tincture of iron, the picture grad-
ually appears. Sulphocyanide of potassium is usi-d
for red, ferrocyanide of potassium for blue, and tan-
nin for black.
If preferred the following solutions may Ik- used :
Sulphate of iron for blue, nitrate of bismuth for yel-
low, and sulphate of copper for brown. In this case
spray with a solution of prussiate of potash.
Originally, when these were used, a canvas was first
exhibited and shown to be apparently free from prepa-
ration. This canvas was then dampenc<I and placed
on an easel in front of a cabinet. A light was placed
at such an angle back of the canvas as to enable the
spectators to see through it. The other lights were
then lowered, and the music started, while the nio-
ditim entered the caWnet back of the canvas. Then
through a tiny hole in the cabinet curtain, the nie<liuTn,
from behind, using an atomizer, sccr^ '
canvas with the developing i
gradually made its appea nuiC|
eyes. The atomizer i
and the music cov*
A case is rcjwt
for a time withn
appearance of >*■
over the canv
300 APPENDIX.
he secretly sprayed the canvas from an atomizer con-
cealed in his sleeve.
Before giving my ideas of the methods employed by
the Chicago mediums, I will quote an extract from a
letter* I have received from a gentleman in Tacoma,
Washington. This gentleman has an uncle who ob-
tained a portrait of his little girl who is dead. The
passage reads as follows: "My uncle is certain that
there was no fraud used in the production of the large
wall portrait which he secured of his little girl, as he
and other members of his family saw the picture grad-
ually appear on the canvas, which was placed in a
window. There was no possible chance of fraud, he
avers. He has shown this picture, which is quite
artistic, to many prominent persons, and before some
local literary bodies. The portrait is a reproduction
of a cabinet-size photograph which he had with him
at the time, but to further mvstifv him there are some
slight changes in the picture. Although he is very
intelligent, he says that this picture w^as never made
by mortal hands, or with paint and brush."
It is to be regretted that this description is so meagre
of details. I should like to have known what oppor-
tunity there might have been for secretly photograph-
ing his picture or copying it ; whether he had more
than the one sitting or not ; if the photograph were
shown to the medium or left the sitter's hands at all ;
how soon after his arrival with the photograph he re-
ceived the portrait ; whether the portrait appears to
be in oil paints, or is merely chemical stains, etc. It
is, however, doubtful if one who was not familiar with
the importance of these points would have noticed
these things at all, to say nothing of remembering
such apparently insignificant details.
In some of the advertising matter of the mediui
to whom I refer, I have seen some statements the suur-
stance of which follows: They do not care to "pander
to the caprice of caqiiiig skeptics" ; they tlesire to give
their services to honest investigators, and prefer to
have an appointment made in advance either by tele-
phone or otherwise when a sitting is desired ; they de-
sire to know. also, beforehand, what is the nature of
the sitting required of them. All of this is perfectly
proper for the convenience of the parties, but the
latter part of it is certainly suggestive of preparation.
They also state that, originally, some dozen years
ago, when they began developing this phase of me-
diumship, they had to produce the portraits in a closed
cabinet, or in a dark box ; but that of late they have be-
come so highly developed that the portraits are pro-
duced in the daylight ; that now the subject selects the
canvas and the same is placed in the window with the
top leaning against the window sash ; the blind is then
drawn down to the canvas top, and the draperies are
arranged so as to let in no light except through the
canvas; all other light is excluded from the room.
Now, it is quite evident that the canvas might be
sprayed from a concealed mechanism in the window
casing. If so, the sitter could have no idea of what is
employed, for under such conditions one could see
through the canvas but faintly.
Let us suppose that in the windnw ca^iinsj. concealed
by the wood, are some tubes i-iinueclc'il with a pressure
tank of the developing chemical. Let us sjippnse that
a number of tiny nipples arc Inralei! alimL; those tubes
and almost penetrate the wnod nf ilu' casing : that then
there are some pin-holes in tlic wood over each nipple
that each nipple is set at the projicr augk- to spray th
302 APPENDIX.
canvas at the proper places. Now when a concealed
confederate turns on the pressure, it is evident that
the picture will gradually appear. Other mechanisms
may be used. The lower part of the window casing,
known as the sill, may have a revolving trap that re-
volves behind the canvas, bringing up into position a
spraying mechanism ; or more probably, that is merely
pushed up out of the way, so as to allow the tiny nipples
which are trained on the canvas like miniature guns,
to begin operating.
It is also possible that the mediums dampen the can-
vas before the experiment, with a sponge saturated
with the developer, under the pretext of rendering it
transparent, or of causing the "spirit paints" to ad-
here. In such case a developer might be used that
would act very slowly, and then no spraying mechan-
ism would be required.
It would be easy for the artist to prepare several
canvases all alike before the sitting, so as to give the
sitter free choice of canvases. The prices charged,
viz., forty dollars, would justify the expense.
Naturally, mediums following this work as a pro-
fession and doing nothing else, would do much ex-
perimenting, and would greatly perfect their methods.
Thev would doubtless learn to use many chemicals, and
could thus produce the beautiful tints in which the
pictures are now made. It is even possible that no
spraying mechanism is used at present, but that they
have discovered chemicals zvhich develop under the
daylight which enters at the window. The last would
be the ideal method. To learn just what chemicals
they use, an analysis of the painted canvas would be
required.
Now, in the aforesaid advertising matter, I find a
APPENDIX, 303
Statement the substance of which is this : Spirits con-
tinue to develop on the "other side," therefore the
portraits do not always look as the persons did in
life ; that when a perfect likeness is desired, it is well
to bring a photograph for the sitter to look at during
the sitting, and upon which to concentrate his psy-
chic powers. This is to establish proper conditions
so as to enable the "spirit artist" to make a good repro-
duction.
Now, suppose that when the sitter comes with a
photograph, while he is holding it and looking at
it, a secret "snap-shot" of it be taken; or that the
artist (mortal) view it through a small telescope from
some concealed position. It is evident that after a
short time the canvases could be brought in for the
sitter to select one, and the sitting could begin. It
might be necessary to make a failure at first, and make
a second trial for a portrait later, as such expedients
are frequently resorted to in mediumistic work.
In case no photograph is brought, then the mediums
doubtless adroitly get a good description of the de-
parted, and the portrait looks "as the spirit does now
in spirit life" ; so that there is but a very faint resem-
blance. I know a medium who told me that he was
personally acfiiiainted with the "fine artist"^
pares these canvases. He told me the {
and said that he had talked with him fr*
artist is of national fame, and couli! not
his name known in conneciirm with il-
fortunately, I neglected to ■ 1
have foi^otten it.
In the aforesaid advi-'
statement about leaving'
after the sitting. It w-
304 APPENDIX.
nett*s letter, that the portrait to which he refers was
"green" or damp, and was left to dry and be called for
later. How easy it would be, in such case for the
artist to copy the picture in oil on another canvas, or
even to go over the original canvas with a coat of oil
paints. This may be done in some instances. It will
be noticed that Mr. Bennett says the canvas was hung
against the wall. A spraying mechanism could have
been concealed in the wall as easily as in the window
casing; or there might even be a sliding panel in the
wall. In the case Mr. Bennett mentions, the fact that
the coloring material was yet "gjeen," would indicate
the use of a spraying chemical.
The reader may rest assured that the coloring matter
on the portraits was not created by any "spirit'* espe-
cially for the occasion, but that it was in existence be-
fore the sitting, that it was applied to the canvas, not
by a spirit, but by secret means, which are very simple
and commonplace when understood. If one will but
view such things without superstition, it will be much
easier to realize that they are simply clever trickery.
David P. Abbott.
Omaha, Neb.
Mr. Bennett to Mr, Abbott,
Dear Sir:
After writing to you the first time I heard of two
other spirit pictures in this vicinity, and the weather
moderating I have been able to go and see them. I
tried to learn all the points you requested me to notice,
and I am frank to say that, with these two there are
several features your explanation to The Open Court
will not explain. The mediums claim they do not
know what the paint is, but they say a wet sponge
APPENDIX. 305
will wipe it all off. leaving the canvas white. If that
is so( ?) of course it cannot be oil. It will be tedious
for me to tell you all the details, but that is the only
way I can make it plain to you.
The picture I had seen when I first wrote you was
owned by a Mr. M. in this city ; a portrait of his
mother, not as he knew her but as she looks now, and
that left a margin, as did most of the other things.
so that your "reply" would be sufficient. But now Mr.
M. has a picture of a daughter that died at birth. It is
not only a beautiful work of art, as I judge, but it is
angelic in form and features. But the picture looks
like a girl of fourteen, while the child was born little
less than nine years ago. The mother sees this error,
but says spirits develop faster. (?)
The child had come to M. in several sittings. I am
not sure if with other mediums or not. (he and his
wife and little son have all developed as rapping,
writing and planchett mediums within the past year),
but think it did. It told them they could get its pic-
ture. So he went to Chicago again this winter, taking
a well-known business man with him. At the hotel
M. took four leaves from a common note-sized tablet
that lay on the office table, folded them ar"" - it them
in an envelope with hotel card on the top r ealed
it, put a one cent stamp over the leal, • an a
pin through the comer so as to mar* s. I
will say here that two of the she ihole,
and M. says he presumes he did t ictly
even, and the hole was made mer
edges and so missed two. He his
pocket and the two men went re.
by their directions, he put Ac at
lay on the table, then put d
306 APPENDIX.
them together about ten minutes, the mediums not being
near, and conversing on other topics in the mean time.
Then one told him his message was ready. He took
the envelope and put it in his pocket, without opening,
though the mediums protested, wanting to know them-
selves what was in it. But he said he was not going
to open it until he got home, as his wife was skeptical,
and if there was anything in it worth while he wanted
her to see it.
M. then told them he wanted a picture of his dead
daughter taken by the side of his living son, now
about twelve years old. They told him they could not
include the boy without having his photo or having
him present ; but the photo need not be shown but kept
in his pocket — only so it was in the room. So they
agreed on a less price for that picture, and later he is
going with his son to have both painted together at a
reduced rate. Now mark the frailties of human testi-
mony : M, says his friend selected at random the can-
vas from a large pile lying in a corner of an adjoining
room, all stretched on frames of different sizes, each
person selecting the size he wants to pay for ; and that
his friend put the canvas on a window sill, and then
they both sat down, and in ten minutes the picture
was completed, the mediums not being near them.
His friend tells me (separately) that M. selected the
canvas himself and put it in the window. He did not
say anything about the mediums, but when I n.ikf^ .
him if they did not sit on each side of the I'i' ' ■
at first said, "No." and then he said, "l\\\
did!" Now in the other picture to be destTi
they sat on each side of the canvas, each
by one side, and the window shade was i
to the top of the canvas, "so as not to U
APPENDIX- 307
of the observers." And this is the way they picture it
out in their catalogue which illustrates an<l explains
their methods and terms.
When M. told me about his mother's picture he sai<l
they hung it on the wall, and that caused you to ask
me several questions. But now M. tells me they put
it in the window, and they sat one on each side hold-
ing it. See how he varies.
In the former case they kept the picture a few days
to dry, and that gave you an itiea that they could re-
paint it. But in this case they immediately delivered
it to M. ami he brought it home. He had requested
that a flower be inclmUnl in the hair of the fjirl, and
that her name that has l>cen given her since she passed
over, be on the picture. Xcithor were on it and he
complained. They told him it would be all right when
he got home ; and sure enough when he unwrappc<l it
at home two white spots were in the hair, (golden liKks
hanging in curls, the flower being jnst over tlic riyht
forehead), and about two days aflcrwiinls :!■; ilir
mother was Itxiking at it the naiiiv j,'r;i.ln:illv -liv. I
oped, in capilnla about a qnarier imli mil. /.■•. punr,-
Note the «i>el!ing, When he arriviM, M «;.: n.r'i ■■!
308 APENDIX.
hence he says the mediums could not have learned it
from him by mind-reading. And he had not told them
the boy's name. Next followed a longer letter from one
signed "Fulton," who told him several things about
his business and patents. M. has invented a drying
kiln, and made Several patented improvements, and
not having sufficient money to do it all and manu-
facture, took in some partners in Cleveland, where it
is manufactured. He is having some trouble with
these partners and this Fulton gave advice about that.
He says this Fulton (he believes it to be the steamboat
man) has told him all he knew about his invention
from first to all the improvements. He says he has
never told the mediums about his business nor about
this Fulton. A third letter was from his mother, but
signed "Per E. D. G." as all her letters are, but he
does not know himself who E. D. G. is. They say
the girl has taken the name of the flower. Jasmine, but
the mother noticed that it was spelled differently in
the letter from the picture, and neither right if meant
for that flower. There are only two spires of the
flower in the picture, just two white leaflets pointing
outwards from each other. But the picture is very
handsome, and an ornament to the room, even though
fictitious. The difficulties in my mind in this case
that you do not explain are that the canvas is selected
at random, so they could not prepare it in advance;
they delivered it at once, so they did not have a chance
to paint it afterwards ; and the things told in the letter
about the boy's sickness, etc., which M. says he kept
in his pocket all the time.
The other case is a Mrs. B., whose son, sixteen years
old, died last April from measles, followed by pneu-
monia. She is a Baptist and had no belief in spirits.
APPENDIX. 309
but was so g^Heved about her loss that some friends
advised her to consult a medium, which she did.
Among them was the one from Chicago, that I men-
tioned to you before, and who I believe is a "runner"
for the artist mediums. Some one advised her to go
and get his picture and in one sitting the boy told her
he would go with her so she could get an exact like-
ness. She arrived in Chicago on Saturday and told
them what she had come for. They told her there
were so many ahead of her that if she did not have ob-^
jections to come next day, Sunday. She consented,
and then they suggested that she ask for a letter front
the boy, and she tore two leaves from a blank tablet
they had, and they gave her an envelope in which she
placed them, and then she piace<l thoni l)ctwecn the
two slates, and they had her put twi) large rubber
bands around them, one each way. She askc<l why
they did that, and they replied so thai if she were a
skeptic she could see that theydid not do the work. On
Sunday she went as agreed, but they were still having
more that were ahead of her (she says), and after
visiting some time she left. She assures me that she
did not tell them anything about her boy, his name,
description, etc., at any of theM interviews. On Mon-
day she went an<l they not only j^ot tin- pig
also gave her another long letter, (I tlliti
sheets written on one side) the paper beir^^
a tablet as bi-fore, and put into ui envi.-^
put between two slate*, elr -feff,
both letters. The pcnmai
and very similar to that in
In these letters lie says, .•
mourn because I did noi
immcfliately went and s._
3IO APPENDIX.
the body. And I am near you all and see you every
day. I am also pursuing my studies just the same
as when in school,' only it is not so hard now for me
to learn my lessons." Now, just before he died he
asked to see his sister who was also dangerously sick
in another room, but the doctor forbade their carrying
her to him, and he died without seeing her. How did
the mediums know of this incident? Again he says,
"Goldie is past suffering now. She is here with me
all the time ; we are soul-mates now and very happy
together." Now Goldie was a little girl sweetheart of
his when the family lived in another state some years
before. The day before the boy died the girl got
burned, and after much suffering died in June; the
boy died in April. The mother assures me that not
even any of the neighbors knew of this girl friend,
nor of her tragic death — much less could these me-
diums have known it. Again, "Do not worry over
that money. Use it for something that will be useful
to you, and remember it as a present from me." Now,
for several days before his sickness he left school to
work for a neighboring farmer, and the mother thinks
tliat work helped to cause his death. So she has kept
the money he earned in his pocket book just as he left
it. She says none of the neighbors knew she was
keeping it, much less the mediums. These are the
most peculiar features of these letters.
When the picture was finished she told them she was
sorry that he did not write his name on it, and im-
mediately the name "Harry" appeared on his coat
sleeve. Then she was sorry that she did not ask that
some pin or jewel be put on his neck-tie, and ininie>
diately a little yellow crescent developed in the knc
of his tie. She says the tie, collar and clothing are jtu
APPENDIX. 311
like what he wore when in best ilrcss. She tolls mo
that the picture is a pcHid likciK-ss of liov Ixn-, a«.l that
all the neighbors think so too. She carrii\l t'l O)ioap>^
a photo of this boy with his sistor ami lii'.'»t!w. x
group of three. Ham- bcin}r the oUlcsi, but all lakoii
when he was twelve: but she did n.n takv ihsl plv^f.''
from her pocket, she says, T notiixsl that i« iliai on
the photo Harn,- had his hair partcl on th.' lift -.i.K-.
while in the spirit picture it is I>a^t^^l in iho mi.l.llo
His mother said that for tin.- last f.>»v wniv }■,,• hs.l
practiced parting it in the middle. So tin- in,v!i,im4
did not imitate the photo she ha.I with h.«. \\Ii.-iltii
they saw it or not. Now "Harry" w.is ih.' xmih- \hM
developed on the picture and it w.is ih.^ n.iin,- ^1, ii,-,t
on both the letters written l>ef.>iv tlw pi.nn-,- w.-»i
made. She is positi\'c she did not i.ll im iiaiM,>
I will not longer wean,- yon. but .1.1 h.m i,-, li.^w l
could describe what I have seon inn.li hn. 1,1 v.- Is-
more explicit in replying to your .jh.mi.mt. 1^, , .m
vas is selected by the ap|>licant, aii<l >.<> ti .!,<, ^ n.-t
seem apparent how th^ can Ik pi>-|\ii>.T m .>.:> m, ,'
fo r eadi apiJicm t, m In tltenc >-n-. v ,'-.. » . •„>. .,
Mhet ,.;■.- .: y■....^
itii .!■. ■ ■■ ;•...-.
hand, the Applicant vM
pared for an old P^raM
window, thr mMU|^^H
ilie
to tm- --i (^^^H
to \h< ^^^^M
nd.x
Tl.
Aamogi^^^^^^M
n.n\
tliat s<.-iontist.v imd elu-
312 APPENDIX.
ists have tested those pictures, and analyzed the paints,
and been unable to find what they are. The mediums
of course tell them this; — ^they do not know it from
chemists themselves. The mediums say they do not
know what the paints are themselves. It is done by
the spirits, of course, and how should they know what
material the spirits use( ?) !
I really hope you will succeed in exposing this fea-
ture of spiritism, and that I shall be able to give the
results to my readers not far in the future. If I can
in any way be of farther aid to you command me.
Yours for truth,
COLDWATER, MiCH. C. W. BeNNETT.
^^ ^^ ^^
In a subsequent letter, in referring to a trumpet me-
dium, Mr. Bennett says:
"I want to call your attention to the fact that it was
the same B. of Chicago that I had mentioned as the
one I believed was a "runner" for the portrait me-
diums. This helps to confirm my suspicions. This
man has been here several times since that time M.
met him, and had ample opportunities to get all the
information he needed about M. to enable the mediums
to make his two pictures. It was B. also that first
suggested (by spirit talk, of course) to that woman to
get a picture of her boy."
Second Letter from Mr, Abbott.
To THE Editor of The Open Court :
I am in receipt of this second letter from Mr. Ben-
net, and I can but say that it only confirms me more
strongly in my opinion that my explanation is the
correct one. This letter introduces some new features
to be explained. One is the slate and billet test. An-
• APPENDIX. 313
other is the means by which the mediums secured the
secret information. These I will treat separately.
Now first in regard to the portraits. I am now quite
certain that a spraying mechanism is used and that it
is concealed in the window casing. Believers will ac-
knowledge that the coloring matter is applied while
the canvas is in the window. I agree with them. The
difference is this, the believers think that it is created
for the especial purpose and applied by an invisible,
immaterial, spirit artist, who devotes most of his time
to the business so as to enable some mediums to make
a living, and also to convince more strongly than ever
good believers. I think the coloring matter is manu-
factured by mortal man, and that a portion of it is
applied to the canvas in an invisible spray while in the
window. I think that part of it is applied beforehand
by a mortal artist in secret, and that it is invisible until
developed.
The portraits furnished Mr. M., who did not have
pictures to be reproduced, do not resemble the spirits
when in life. These canvases could be selected i
the stock canvases, which are always on hand n
prepared. He would not have to wait for his sitting.
The canvases from which he selected need not all ha^
the same picture on them. Each one of the stoj
from which he selected could have on it an itf
portrait of a fjirl of about the right age. and t'
make little difference which one he should *
he could not tell, anyway, how his daugh'
look when nine years old. Doubtless, the
vases contain portraits of girls of varying »
confederate in placing a number of thfln
joining room, would naturally use sonK
traits of girls of not quite the right %
314 APPENDIX.
dently took place, and the gentleman happened to
choose one of a girl of about fourteen years of age.
This made little diflference, for the credulity of believ-
ers always supplies a ready explanation for such var-
iations. The same explanation will apply to the gentle-
man's selection of a canvas for the portrait of his
mother.
In the lady's case, the portrait must resemble a boy
who recently died, and must resemble him nearly
enough to be recognized. In this case a picture must
be taken to the medium's house with the sitter. Now
notice that this lady is not g^ven a sitting until her
third visit. I am quite sure that the "special canvases"
had to be prepared for her, and that the artist had not
completed them when she made her second visit. Also
notice, that when the portrait for the lady was finished,
she expressed regret that her son's name was not on
the picture; after which it appeared. Then she re-
gretted that there was no pin in his tie, whereupon one
immediately appeared. Notice also that in the case of
the gentleman, he had requested that a flower appear
in the hair of the girl, and that her name appear on
the picture. He was disappointed that they were not
there, and they also subsequently made their appear-
ance. Thus in each case these sitters were given
special "after effects" in response to their spoken
wishes.
How very obliging this spirit artist is! How very
convincing is his work ! Is it not strange that he will
not permit a subject to bring his own canvas? Does
not this similarity in the mode of procedure in each
case tell a story to the rational reader? Did any of
my readers ever see the same sleight-of-hand trick
performed over a few times, and note the absolute simi-
APPENDIX. 315
larity in the mode of operation? Is it not a fact, in
the language of the profession, that "this 'is in »the
game"? It is just such little improvements to a trick
performed by a meditmi that, in the language of the
profession, "makes the woric strong." For myself, I
am quite sure that these special effects were prepared
on the canvases in advance, with a more slowly acting
chemical ; that by suggestion in the conversation, the
mediums adroitly caused their subjects to request these
little after effects. In performing tricks myself I have
frequently resorted to just such expedients, and have
thus sometimes made my work appear almost super-
natural.
In the case of the gentleman, he requested these ef-
fects in advance before the sitting. His canvas was a
stock picture, but the assistant in the adjoining room
quickly applied the special effects to the canvas with
the slow chemical. On reaching home the flower was
found to have developed, but later the wife of the sitter
saw the name appear before her. Possibly it was vis-
ible as soon as the flower was, but that she overlooked
its location. Then when she did discover it, the psy-
chological effect was as though it had suddenly de-
veloped before her eyes.
In the case of the lady, I think the conversation was
so manipulated as to cause her to express her desire,
a short time before the chemicals had time to develop.
I am quite sure that two persons from the same town
would not each, independently, if uninthieneed hy sni;-
gestion, have asked for special after c/Trcts of such
similarity to appear on the portraits. This feature is
evidently considered pretty "stroni^^" hy these mediums
and is "worked in'* very fre(|uently.
It will be noticed that the i^entleman selected a can-
3l6 APPENDIX.
vas and got his picture very readily ; but that when he
requested his living son's portrait to be made on the
same canvas, this could not be done without a second
sitting, and the presence of the boy or his photograph.
Next in regard to the means by which the mediums
secured the secret information. When high g^ade
mediums do a big business, it is very common for them
to employ a "traveling person" as I have stated else-
where. Is it not natural to suppose that these mediums
do this, and that the medium B., who solicits (or has
his spirit voices solicit) trade for them, receives part
of the proceeds? Would this not partly explain the
high prices charged? Honest spiritualists will tell
most any one, that mediums as a class always greatly
depreciate the work of other mediums, and are con-
tinually crying "fraud" against them. Many believers
have expressed their regret to me of this frailty in the
character of this class of persons. It is very unusual
for a medium to advise a sitter to visit and spend
money with another medium. To me it is as plain as
day. The medium B. had been in the home city of
these sitters many times. All believers, and those who
were on the wav to become believers, evidently had
sittings. One of this medium's voices advised this
lady to get this portrait. This proves that the lady
discussed the matter either with this medium or his
voices. Evidently, this lady in her conversation and
questions (written or otherwise), revealed to these
spirit voices or this medium, all of the secrets (in-
cluding the manner in which her son had lately worn
his hair, etc.), which afterwards were used to such
telling advantage. She has no doubt forgotten most
of her conversations with this medium, and could not
relate one thing in ten that passed between them. But
APPENDIX. 317
it is a medium's business to write down and remember
these things. It is also a very prevalent custom for
mediums to exchange information thus secured.
I feel sure that this medium secured the lady's son's
photograph, either with her consent for the purpose
of "magnetizing it," or of getting en rapport with her
son ; or else that he secured It at some gallery secretly,
and that he copied it with a kodak. How frequently
do subjects take some memento as a lock of hair or
a photograph of the dear one to a medium! How
easily can a medium manage to have this done long
before his voices ever advise a spirit portrait !
There can be no doubt that he furnished the lady
mediums all of the vital information, names, etc.,
which these mediums afterwards used to such telling
advantage. The reader need not doubt the fact that
mediums obtain a complete knowledge of the little
secrets, connected with the dead of their sitters. These
things prey on the minds of those who are in grief,
and are revealed to mediums in one way or another in
private sittings.
I wish my readers could see a collection of written
and signed questions which is in my possession,
were written by many persons who thought t
saw them burned before their eyes. They 1
o£ the innermost secrets of iheir writers. Ead
believed that the medium never saw his wHtn
in some instances report that he never toin
cards on which it wa,";. If another medir
appear and reveal this .same information 1
sons, they would undonbtcdly certify th
all knew of these secrets. These wer*
me by a medium of my acquaintance
friendly with me.
3l8 APPENDIX.
As to the sickness of the boy, (whose name was
probably furnished by B.), I should think this a mere
prediction which would apply to any growing child;
that, had the boy not been sick on the father's arrival,
like most children he would at some later time have
had an unimportant sickness ; and that in such a case
this prediction would have been applied by the gentle-
man to the event. On arriving home the boy happened
to be sick, which accidentally made an immediate ful-
filment of the prediction.
And now in regard to the slate test. I have else-
where dealt very completely with these tests. I will
not take up space here in doing so. In an article of
mine appearing in the Journal of the Society for Psy-
chical Research I explain a test where, from some
slates, possession is secretly obtained of a sealed en-
velope. This could be opened with steam, and the
writing done, after which the envelope could be again
sealed. In Suggestion, of September, 1901, there is an
exposure of this same trick, or nearly the same trick,
as that which these mediums performed.
It is quite evident that these sitters received informa-
tion or instructions from some source in advance,
which caused them to prepare the sealed envelopes.
In the gentleman's case he prepared his at the hotel.
Now the lady did not come with one prepared, so the
mediums had her prepare a sealed envelope in exactly
the same manner. What a strange coincidence! This
shows that this is a stock trick of theirs and is per-
formed for most subjects. The mode of operation is
exactly the same in each case. This fact alone shows
that it is a trick.
It will be noted that one letter was signed, **per E.
D. G.'' The recipient does not know any one whom
APPENDIX. 319
these initials would indicate. Had the mediums' notes
of information been more complete, or had they acci-
dentally hit upon other initials, this might have been
cited as a most convincing test.
I will not take up further space with my explana*
tions; but I simply assure my readers that if any of
them will take their own canvas with them, and nez'er
let it out of their hands or sight, they will get no pic-
ture.
David P. Abbott.
Omaha, Nebraska.
Abbolt, Dwid P., ita
corrcipond
nillri icitti niblr Kn,'lct tfMi.
tnce in Oft* Co
.94, ID): Tlir nanit adapWd for
».; replr 10
double parlori. w»i Oty Dh
Dr. O. O, Burciw, ity, TmU
of wrltlni BKretli oblainxl.
Abbott. Judo Aubcl, aame UMd
i»0; Ll« of nimea to indudt
In tMt. Ml.
• dead ivrxin, >;, i>ll; M«-
Accardion *»l«l. ,86,
rlium aniwer* qiieMlona wllh-
Actor. MiKidan an,
oul louchloa Ibem! (1) wUla
Altohol, OdorltM, 1
they are held (loft by hl> man-
agrr, igj, mo, (1) while Ihey
»Ba,
Apparition of > voii
in a has. i«l. '04. (3) *U1e
Ihey llecn* table and ht vralba
Aitificial band, 3j, %
7. >JJ-
.bout the room, igg, .nr; wbil.
AuiRant icti ■■ a
in a donhle parlor, loft, (4)
38; u porter, ii.
co.icf.ttd hy
with Card Smikt^tt and Uacfc.
drmpcrio. jfi.
h<.ard In tb> winia of iht aiw
Aatroloir. The rel.
»ii MMbod of obiilnlna a *p>
dinmriiip to. »4! tl
Attention. Control r,
'"■ "■*•
DdarlcMalobol u««l,>n.i Pre.
pami book natd. .««: ITep»r*d
BaK with two comp.
rlm.c.1^ <4S.
I'aliil. 63. M.
UtUt. lo: QuHtion tran^^l
BiM-board. Trap in.
.83,
M llHe httd hr .iltrr. S|^H
Kariict, Billct-clianii
: »o6, fo«.
ttotii wrllUn and rat^^H
Believer movea into
n hlork near
■ mediuni for pu
IMJKl of in.
Mln.<'. .1 \,Ay o»^^H
322
INDEX.
with the use of wax impres-
sions, 1 66; "Switch" and "One
Ahead** principle employed, 174;
"Switching" the billets, 171;
Trick envelope with a double
front, 16, 17; The same with
a slot cut in its face, 41, 45;
Washington Irving Bishop's
sealed letter reading in a new
dress, 1 1 ; The same improved,
263; Wireless telephone, 214.
Billets of believers collected by
mediums, 13, 247, 317.
Bishop's, Washington Irving,
sealed letter reading, 194; Im-
provement on, 263; In a new
dress, 5, 11.
"Black chapter," 243.
Blackboard in the wings of the
stage, Use of a, 213.
Blindfolded, Medium, 195; with
a kid glove, 6, 11, 202.
. Blotter pad, Use of a, 251.
Blue Book. The, 278; of Boston,
The, 192; of Kansas City, 278;
of Omaha, 14.
Blue flame on the surface of
water, 41.
Bodily ailments treated by me-
diums, 27.
Book prepared with carbon sheet,
170.
Books of "Dope." 75.
Boston, the Blue Hook of, i-j^.
Boulder of gold quartz material-
ized, 240.
Buddhist priest, Kev. Swaini
Mazzininanda, 242.
Burgess. Dr. O. O., submits a
puzzling case, 280 ff.
Burr, Aaron, name used in test,
95.
Cabinet, 166, 179, 235.
Cage of wire, screwed to the
floor, 237.
Camp of mediums in Indiana, 59.
Canvassing, Information collected
while, 19.
Carbon sheet, Book prepared with,
170; White, 254.
Card Servante, Use of a, 212.
Cards for forcing, Pack of, 147.
Carus, Dr. Paul, Soul of Man,
274.
Cases, Meditmis on the lookout
for, 184.
Catalogfue of private readings, 192;
of information, 270, 271 ; of
questions, 13.
Ceiling, Trap in, 179.
Chair, Method of preparing a
trick, 1 10.
Chart containing impression of
sitter's palm, 248.
Chemical tricks, 190.
Chest, Light and heavy, 34.
Chicago, 242; Portrait mediums
in, 241, 294; War of, against
mediums, 246.
Child. Materialization of a, 73.
Clip-board, Use of, 170.
Coat or hat. Information from.
38.
Cocoa butter. Use of, 168.
Collection of 'written and signed
questions, 247, 317.
Colors, Words written in. 162.
Confederates often respectable
persons, 271.
Confessions burned, 137; means
of discovering, 135.
Consolation in occultism. 4.
Control of attention. 153.
Convent, Entertainment given al
a, 99.
Cornell University, 285.
Corner torn from slip of pai>er,
155-
Cosmopolitan Magazine, 285.
Costumes of gauze. 71.
("ouch used in trances, 36.
Council Bluffs, 39, 5». 52. 55-
Court plaster method, 191.
Cream, Use of, 168.
Crow, John A., name used in
test, 26.
Crystal gazing. 54, 98.
Dark, Raps in the, 56; seance.
59, 266; seance. Billet work in,
82; seance • evidence of trick-
m: Geo. L. Will
106, 154. 16a; Ymi
eath. Lift after. 2.
Developing a wa
1 68; Fowdera
Dictionary. Sriirii
la!. i6j. 169.
Direclory of eity uied. 38, 167.
DiKaU and rlice of dvUh. How
10 lell the, 111. 316.
"Dope." Ilooki of,
Drj
d by,
101. aoj;
. Madame,
Knyi-tian .|iieea, 3
KvanA. Henry KMRely.
Clove. IIImdMdiiiR
II. 1«. MI,
Gold quart! n
of. a4o.
(.rive Monet, Intonnuion from.
Cuenwork, lafomiltoa il*«n bjr.
Guide writliw tran dlwrioo. %r.
324
Holt, Con, I
I.Me eill, J*
tjAfer. from ranUDm ■
once, is: filcbcd froc
(locfcet, to; replaced i:
Li«hl, Fockct electric, 84, jjj.
IJncoln. Neb-. 15. 168. 177. *93-
Local confederate Information
from. 36.
I« Angeles J4a.
quently work, .B4.
tumet. Metbod of oains. Vi:
71T conjureri. 86; gnldci. j4;
coaumea. Preparation of. 71:
magic. 1 16.
forma lecretly aecurrd from un-
Indiana. Camp of mediuma In, sfi.
der the coat of t confederate.
Influence. Fee paid for eiening
:'35; gauee concealed in a belt
^iritual. a6.
under a lady medium'* clnlh-
iHformalion. CitaJogued. 370. 17 1 ;
iiig, »36; Icttera. j6. 67.
Filhinx for. 60: from the city
directory. 167; from the daily
)(>^c girdle. 186.
paperi. 191. 370: from grave-
Magician an actor, iij.
yarda, ,9. ,91. ,70; from hal
or coal. 38: from local confed-
erate, 36: from other inediuin>
>oo. >o8.
collecled in booka, 7s: from
Mantel uaed in »late«riting teati.
apeaking tubca. 191; from writ-
ing, 17S; given by guciiwofk.
Materialiulion. 70. 13 s ff-
177; inferred from writina, ,77;
Materialiiing a trick. ;«.
Mean, of getting, 19. ,91, 170,
J16; obtained by a secret con-
Iluddhiat print. 24a.
federate, j8; (hroagh rubber
Mecbanical rappera. ><>o; Houae
tube. 37-
fitted with. 191.
Iriah airirit, jM, 16S.
Mecbaniim of aympathy. The. jjn.
Itb«», N. Y., 18s.
Medium at > dinance. t^ter
from. 15: forfeit, tij. i8i.
at the cxpenw of believera. 338.
uaual. aij tf.; reading of acaled
wrilinga. 87 ff.
146: Lot .\nKelea Htrald't war
againat, 144-
Kanau City. j66. .77; Blue Book
of. 378.
with, Hi. 149: teaching, a
Kellar. the magician. Spirit tie of.
fraud. 141: Kelation of. to
palmiatry, aalrology. and for-
Kid glo*'e. Blindfolded with help
tune-telling. 14) ff-
of. 6. .., aoj.
Memorr poor for detaiU 67-
Kritbna, Spirit of ihe Maatet, J44.
Mental teala, 63.
IXOKX.
Mind*reading, 57.
Mine, Spirit. 241.
Misdirection. Art of, 115, 135.
Modern sorcery, 193 flf.
Name appears on spirit ix)rtrait
on demand, 310; of a dead per-
son from amoHR thoM> of the
living, How to select. 2J3; Me-
dium tells sitter's, 25.
Names, List of. to include a dead
I)erson, 57, ^15. 3\S, 220.
Newspaper used in slatewriting.
122, 139, 151. 157. ><>3-
Newspai>er8, Information from,
192, 270.
Nut-galls, Solution of, 190.
Occultism, Consolation of. 4.
Odorless alcohol. Si>onge saturated
with, 177.
Oldtown, Kentucky, 291.
Omaha, 26, 39. 55. 237. 239, 274.
276; "F»lue Hook" of, 14.
Ofen Court. The. 33n.. 274; cor-
res|>ondence with Abbott. 266.
Pack of cards for forcing. 147.
Paint, Luminous, 56.
Palm, Chart containing impression
of sitter's, 248: reading, 169-
Palming. 1 68.
Palmistry combined with medium*
ship, 246. 249: Relation of me-
diumship to. 245 fT.
Paper writing. Independent, 153.
Paraffin wax. Use of. 164. 254.
Parsons, K. A., of New Haven,
Conn., (Mr. Henry Hardin). 85.
Pass of slates. 124, 127, 130. 141.
Pendulums. Mystic oracle of the
swinging, 29, 31.
I'ersonal affairs. Medium tells sit-
ter's, 25.
Phelps. Celestina Redexilana,
name used in test, 221.
Piper, Mrs., name used in teat, 44.
IMace of death. How to tell the
disease and, 222, 226.
Places, List of. 216.
Platform production* Slate tridn
suitable for, 156, 161, i6a.
Plumbago. .*55.
P«K'ket, electric light. !^4. -03: I es
ter filched frtuii wllci**. -*•»; 1 ol
icr replaced in niiier**. .'4-
Pockets in skirts, too.
Porter, AsstHtant a a. 38.
Portrait mediums in l'hioa|^v •*4t»
294: of a Kpnit «p|^Ai« isi4d
ually on c»n\ »<». .*05. .^v*>
Portraits. After clTivln on *piiit.
3**7* 310: de\elo|H*d fiom in-
visible chcniioaN bv npi^xnii;.
Spirit. 2«>u: produi'rd tiom a
cabinet, Spiiit. joT-
Portraiture, Mr. C. \V. Mennclt
on spirit. 294: llistoiy of spiiil.
296.
Powders for developing an in\ is-
ibie impression, ir)5. i(«o.
Price askeil for secrets, 88.
Private readings. Catalogue of.
192.
riogrcssire ThtHker, 142.
Psychic phenomena. 193-
rsy chics: Facts <m«/ Theories. 215*
Psychological, the most esseiilial
part of trick. 114.
Psychometric testa. i8j.
Puxiling caae, l>r. O. O. Burgvu
submita a. aSo.
Queen OrUuu, Mattrtaliiitlon of.
Queationa anawcrcd which are
'Hhoufbt of but not wrf^—
as8; catalogaod, iji C
of writtm and bicim
written on apcctator'a
per. ano retained in '
pockcta aecretly read,
ten and r >1 hj
anawerei' lind:
on the
tl.
fitted
Rappini:
61s
tatfo
in
■•n o:
Ir. •
326
INDEX.
Reaching rod, Telescopic, 278, 287.
Reading, Ability of a medium to
give, 245; question written on a
slate by a sitter, 132.
Headings of one medium and
palmist, 249.
Residence, Medium tells sitter's.
Respectable persons, Confederates
often, 271.
Ring, Message written with a
gold, 131; presented to spirit,
74.
Robbins, Mr. Charles W., elec-
trical engineer, 214.
Rope and tape-tying, 70, 237, 281,
284, 287.
Rubber stamp used to produce a
message. 188; tube, Informa-
tion through, 37: tube, Voices
conducted to a trumpet by a
concealed, 289.
Sacramento, 222.
San Francisco. 282; Examiner.
242.
Savage, Rev. Minot J.. 227; His
report of a strange case, 215.
Schlossenger, Dr. C. S., 27, 58,
95, 178, 216, 222, 225, 226, 2271
C. S. Weller's report of mental
tests given by, 228; his spirit
guide Levi, 229; his vision of
Jesus Christ, 233.
School teacher, Questions of. 247.
Scientific persons best subjects.
Seance, a fraud, 279n.
Sealed letter reading, Washing-
ton Irving nishop's, 194; in a
new dress ,5. 11; Improvement
on. 263.
Sealed writings, Mediumistic read-
ing of, 210; Methods of read-
ing, 87, 94. 100. 194: Prepara-
tion of, 91.
Seating spectators, Method of, 71.
Secrets, Family, 56, 68; means of
discovering, 135; of mediums
jealously guarded, 87.
Selected word appears on slate.
147.
Selection of slates, 150; of a sum
of figures. Methods of forcing
the, 160; of a word which is to
appear on a slate, Forcing the
157.
"Shall We Gather at the River,"
238.
Silicate slate flap, 154.
Sioux City, 230.
Skeptics seated weil back, 71.
Skirts, Pockets in, 190.
Skull cap with sponge saturated
with odorless alcohol, 177.
Slade's slate performance, Report
of, 68.
Slate and dictionary test, Yost's
Spiritualistic. 90.
Slate leaving sitter's sight. 182.
Slate writing tests: Chemical
tricks, 190: flower or other to-
ken received with a message,
138; How to force the selection
of the desired slates, 131; How
to pass the slates from hand to
hand, 124: How to secretly
read a question written on a
slate by a sitter, when a stack
of slates is used, 132; Medium
prepares message on slates in
investigator's room, 186, 187;
Message on sitter's own slates
held on his own head, 76, 80;
Message on a slate in colors
chosen by the spectators and in
answer to spoken questions. 162;
Message on a slate resting in a
chandelier, 23: Message pro-
duced by an adroit exchange of
slates, 189; Message received
without slates leaving sitter's
hands, 186; Message written in
sitter's presence, 43, 47, 49;
Message written with a gold
ring belonging to the sitter,
131; Message written with toes
of medium, 191; Reporter mys-
tified, 181; Rubber stamp to
produce a message. 188; Sit-
ter's own slates wrapped in pa-
lM>l-..\.
.?-'7
per in which they were jiur-
chascfi. 1S5: >la'le's slate ikt-
formance. Re^iort of. 68; Slate
tricks suitabi'.- for [platform pro-
duction: (i; With one Alate
and a fla;». 156. (2) With two
slates and a flaj». 16 1, <i) With
three .slates ftn-l a flafi. i6j:
Slate tricks where sittt-r brinffs
his own •''ates. 17'): (i) where
medium doe^ n^it touch th<-m,
179; O) Slate* wrai*iH-d in pa-
I»er in which th*-y wire pur-
chased. 185. (%} Without slati-H
leavinfc sitter's handt. xHtr,
Slates helontf to sitt«r and mr-
dium does not touch them, 170;
Slates secretly rrnioved fmni
sitter's shoulder by a confi-il-
eratc. ^2: Some expert inanru-
vcrinj;?. 127: Trap in basflMiard,
i8r: Trap in ci-ilinv or ihutt,
179: Use of a prrparrd chair,
97, no: When: nii ss.'iKe hlatr
is (>assed to sta' k from manlrl,
122: With a d'luMi' or hinK<'d
slatr, and a flap. iS": With tmr
slate an'l a flap, 15^; Willi m-v*
eral small s!;itrH and oni- larK<*
fine. 117, i.?_', t.^%; tlir name
with expert n»ani-ii\rriiiK, u'l'.
With st.'irk rif >ini:ill sl.itfi and
a r'lK or iirwsp;iprr. ui; With
thnr slat< s and a flap, 14 J, 147,
149. i^j: With tuo nlalcH and
a llai>. i(f\: With tun slalrM
atnl a -ilii ;iti- il.ip. ij^j; AN'ilh
1-A'i flat's. iMii- liriii^ held un-
d«r tin- t.'ibh- I»v tin- sitter, ijH;
With two slaKs, nsiuK the
p.i'.-. i.r:.
Slate-. Me.-ui-i of •■]>< iiiK. 1K7; Se-
lr« tiou «if. I v»-
.Si'ul "f Man. by Dr. ( arus. J74.
Si Mil -mates, jiu*. M.iterializatinn
of. 7.^
"S'Hiltraxel." 2\\.
S|i«c!ators. Mtthoil of seating, 71.
Spelling:. Spirits ii«»i»r at. 307.
Spermaceti wax. j';?: l.'si- of, 1^4.
sphinx, The, iHi.
.Spirit ciinimunitMi. jgj: paintinics,
50; piMM iit KiKdliuK. »U»r: l**»i
trait, .N'ame appeals on, on de
maml, .tii»: iHutiaits. Afiev ri
feriH on. .1.17. .no; iHUlr.iits de
veloped from in\ i.<»il>Ir cheinit-aU
by spray iuK. .•oi); ihiiiiaiiN p o
du««"d fiom a eabiiiel. .'»».•: jhii
traitiire. Mr. ('. W. lU-nneil on.
-•94: imrtiaituie. llis|or> of.
2HU\ slate wiiiiiiK autl billet
tiKtH, I 14 If.: tie of K« 11.11. the
maKi<'i'»ii ••^C \oiciM. Ii»t*its,
.'mil laps, fi.>.
Spit its jMior at spellin)!, jo;.
Spunks, l''.xpnMi'' of, jjo.
.SpiayinK meclianivui concealed in
window easiiiK. .|i.|.
Steel riuK passed n|Hin .\ sitter's
arm. <i().
Still kton, California. .Swimlle per-
petialeil in, J40.
St I ire riMim tests, .15, J7. l^^.
.Swindle of a indKe of a supieme
court, 74: of it l:idv bv u nie-
ilium. .'H: ill Slocklon. I'ali-
foiiiia, .'40.
Switch of billetN. 171: .\iiother
method of. 17J: Tricks ilciicnd*
ent on. 17J.
Switch of slnlrs. .Vi*r I 'ass.
Inblr rnpphig, 53.
Tiiblrl, A prniaml. 107. 164, 254.
'i'lieiHiia, J4I, jiMi.
TrlrRraph informaliun to
nut. 37.
Trirffraphy Inns. Touch, 37.
I'rlridKinr, Uhc of n head,
J 56: Wirelcn*! Ji4>
i-
Telmropic 1
trumiH'i
Tide is l>
T«»kcn ri
•ajce. i
Tnpeka,
Touch :
Touche
Trance
Trap n
cHlii
■tiR rod, 2f\
'lie. 3.
■' a dai
ustt, I
•rk. 61
Mahati
^d, l8j
328
INDEX.
Traps, Various, 70, 237.
Treasury of Heaven. 241.
Trickery verified, 269.
Trumpet moved into a tree, 291;
seance, 266, 277; seance ex-
plained, 26S; seance with the
medium securely tied, j8o; Tel-
escopic, 289; Voices from, 56,
63, 389.
Trumpets, Aluminum, 2M.
Tube, Information through rub-
ber, 37; Reaching, 237; Small
cloth, 167; Voices conducted to
a trumpet by a concealed rub-
ber, 389.
Tubes, Information from speaking,
191.
Turban, Mahatma wearing a, 200,
208.
Ultramarine blue, Use of, 169.
X'apor materialization, 75.
N'est, Turning another's, 260;
Turning one's own, 262.
Vision of Jesus Christ, Dr. Schlos-
senger's, 233.
N'oices from trumpet, 56, 62, 289;
in the open air, Independent,
290; through concealed speak-
ing tubes, 290.
War against medinmt, Chictgo'^
246; Los Angeles Herald's, 944.
Water, Blue flame on surface of,
41.
Wax impression. Developing a,
168; Use of paraffin, 164, 254;
Use of q>ermaccti, 164.
Williams, George L., ft Co., deal-
ers in secrets, 106, 154, 168.
Wilson, Dr. A. M., of Kansas
City, Mo., editor of Tke
Sphinx, 181, 183.
Wings of a stage. Use of a black-
board in the, a 13.
Wire cage screwed to the floor,
337.
Wireless telephone, 314.
Wooldridge, Report of Oifton R.,
of the Chicago Police Depart-
ment, 238, 246.
Word which is to appear on a
slate. Forcing the selection of
a, 157.
Writing, Impression of, developed,
-255.
Yost & Company of Philadelphia,
dealers in magical apparatus,
spiritualistic secrets, etc., 285.
Yost's spiritualistic slate and dic-
tionary testt 90.
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